Ninety seconds - that's what it takes for an impromptu Palestinian rocket team to launch a Katyusha rocket at targets 40 kilometers away. Defense sources say Hamas has moved to "rush-launch" methods to evade air strikes, even though this diminishes the chance they will hit their targets.
In recent days the numbers of rockets being fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip has fallen considerably, to about 20 to 30 daily, compared with 40 to 60 at the start of the offensive.
The constant air cover over Gaza is the main reason for the drop, targeting militants readying to carry out a launch.
The air force has been successful in attacking preprepared launching positions where the militants had already calculated the rocket's range and trajectory.
To compensate for the loss of its ability to launch from well-prepared positions, Hamas rushes launches, usually at night, often near schools or mosques.
The Israel Defense Forces estimates that the militants need about 90 seconds to launch a rocket, often done from a site that allows them to take cover quickly.
Most of the launches take place in the northern Gaza Strip, and the IDF ground incursions in this part of the enclave has forced the militants to shoot from positions further to the south and nearer the beachfront.
Hamas rockets are now less likely to strike their intended targets in nearby Israeli towns, a consideration that has led to the decision to reopen schools in the areas farthest from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas is aiming at Israeli aircraft - mostly helicopters - usually using heavy machine-gun fire. But no hits have been scored. Apparently there has also been an attempt to fire an advanced anti-aircraft missile, with no success.
Israeli intelligence says Hamas is trying to hide missiles in mosques and smuggle more missiles into Gaza.
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