Rockets prompt mix of fear and pride

FOR Palestinians hunkered down under Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip, among the most powerful symbols of the conflict are the homemade rockets militants have fired at Israel, and which Israel says it is now determined to stop.

Nicknamed Qassams — in reference to an Islamist fighter of the 1930s — more than 4,000 have been fired since 2001, killing 18 people in Israel before last month’s Israeli offensive.

Four more have died in rocket fire since December 27.