Previous <<-- Table of Contents -->> Next

Dateline: Middle East
Volume 25 • Winter 2008
Published by The Student Coalition for a Just Peace in the Middle East

TIMELINE OF HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD ATTACKS ON ISRAEL

Following PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat’s rejection in 2000 of the Camp David and 2001 Taba peace offers,
Palestinian terrorist groups initiated a well-planned uprising targeting Israeli civilians. In 2004, Palestinian terrorists, with Iranian and Syrian financial and technological support, launched 669 rockets and 1,644 mortars at Israel. On Sept. 12, 2005, Israel completed the Gaza Disengagement Plan, a scheduled evacuation of all Israeli residents and associated security personnel from Gaza. One week later, five Israelis were injured when Gaza-based terrorists launched 30 rockets on Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip. Hamas converted this territory into a base of operations to further terrorize Israelis. Between 2000-2009, 7,500 rockets, and an equivalent number of mortar shells, hit Sderot and the surrounding area.

Feb. 3, 2006—A Qassam rocket struck a family’s house and the surrounding area in the Negev village of Karmia, injuring four people.

March, 2006—Islamic Jihad fired a 122-mm. Katyusha rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Near Kibbutz
Nachal Oz two Israeli-Arabs are killed when a dormant Qassam rocket exploded in the Nahal Oz area. Two Qassam rockets landed in kibbutz Karmia, south of Ashkelon, resulting in an injury. A total of 49 Qassams are launched at Israel from Gaza .

April, 2006—Sixty-four Qassams are launched at Israel, landing in the Western Negev

May, 2006—Over 45 rockets hit Israeli targets.

June, 2006—Hamas launched 83 rockets this month. A 15-year-old boy was wounded by shrapnel in one attack. Terrorists also targeted the Sapir Academic College, near the Negev town of Sderot.

July, 2006*—A Qassam rocket landed next to a kindergarten in a community south of Ashkelon. Two children were wounded, with many suffering from shock. The kindergarten building was damaged. A total of 197 Qassam rockets hit Israel.

August, 2006*—Israeli authorities recorded 41 Qassam rockets attacks on Israel.

November, 2006—Thirteen rockets, launched in 5 separate attacks hit Sderot, killing 2 Israelis and seriously
wounding two others.

March, 2007—Gaza Palestinians fire five Qassam rockets in separate attacks on Ashkelon.

May, 2007—Palestinian terrorists launched over 300 Qassam rockets from Gaza at Sderot and the western
Negev.There was a total of 175 Israeli casualties: 2 died of their injuries and 23 were wounded.

June, 2007—A combined total of 133 Qassam rockets and mortars were fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip.

July, 2007—Sixty-four mortars and 61 rockets were launched from Gaza after Hamas usurped control from the governing Palestinian Authority in a bloody coup.

August, 2007—According to Israeli sources, 81 rockets and 101 mortar bombs were fired from Gaza at Sderot and the western Negev, including one that struck in the schoolyard of a kindergarten.

September, 2007—Two-hundred-and-two Qassam rockets and mortaring bombs struck inside Israel—one attack struck the courtyard of a Sderot day-care center, causing shock to many, including some infants. Another attack left nearly 70 people wounded.

October, 2007—Exactly 146 rockets and mortars were launched at Israel.

November, 2007—In an unprecedented rocket barrage, 8 mortar shells and 13 Qassam rockets are fired at the Western Negev within one hour. Overall, 100 mortar bombs were fired at Israel and 65 Qassams were launched.

December, 2007—According to Israeli sources, 113 rockets and 109 mortar bombs were fired from Gaza at Sderot and the western Negev.

January, 2008—One man killed and several families wounded after 241 rockets and 136 mortal shells were launched.

February, 2008—Hamas fired 257 rockets and 228 mortar shells at Israel, one hitting a kindergarten, another a college.

March, 2008—A total of 196 rockets and 163 mortar shells were fired. One hit a kindergarten playground. Some 50 civilians were hospitalized, 23 of them severely wounded. Two soldiers were killed.

April, 2008—Hamas launching of 145 rockets and 373 mortar shells left 9 killed and 15 wounded.

May, 2008—A rocket hit an Ashkelon mall and wounded 90 people. Overall, terrorists launched 149 rockets and 206 mortar shells.

June 1-18, 2008—A total of 84 rockets and 153 mortar shells were launched at Israel, with 11 people wounded and one man killed.

June 19 - December 19, 2008—On June 19, an Egyptianbrokered 6-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect. Yet a total of 362 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel during the truce, with 203 rockets and 121 mortar shells being fired between November 4 and December 19.

December 27, 2008—Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, code-named Operation Cast Lead, to stop rocket attacks on Israel. Throughout the operation, which Israel unilaterally ended on Jan. 18, 2009, Palestinian terrorists launched approximately 565 rockets and over 200 mortars at Israel. Rockets and mortars are still being launched, as new cease-fire negotiations continue.

*During this period, Israel was engaged in battle with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon.

Sources: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center; Ynet News

Compiled by Elana Herzog

Top of the Page

Previous <<-- Table of Contents -->> Next