Despite the sharp decline in the number of Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in the past two days, defense officials have recommended that Israel maintain military pressure on Hamas.

Only 13 rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza in the past two days.

Senior Israel Defense Forces officers warned the cabinet that agreeing to a temporary cease-fire would help Hamas amass military strength and extend the range of its ballistic capabilities.

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This would also enable Hamas to better its defensive deployment in anticipation of future Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, the officials said. Decision makers as well as senior IDF officers say they believe Hamas must not be allowed to walk away from the slaying of a Sderot woman Monday, who was struck by a Qassam rocket near her home.

Some cabinet members agree with the IDF that Israel must make Hamas pay for Shir-el Friedman's death, and the subsequent evacuation of thousands of Sderot residents, ¬ events Hamas might present as a victory in the current round of hostilities.

Defense establishment officials say that Hamas has successfully used its perceived exploits in Sderot to draw attention away from its militants' slaying of several operatives from the rival Fatah faction, its partner in government and adversary in the Gaza Strip.

Major-General Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator to the Palestinian Authority, called the current situation in Gaza "anarchy" on Wednesday. Speaking Wednesday before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs in Washington, Dayton added that Hamas was striving to destroy Israel, while trying to dispense with all forces loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Dayton also said that Hamas was receiving military aid from Syria and Iran. Dayton noted that Abbas' American-trained Presidential Guard had successfully fended off Hamas' recent attacks, primarily in the Karni Crossing.