Since June 12, Israel has been the target of ever-increasing
rocket and other terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip, aimed deliberately at civilian targets.
With the increased range of Hamas rockets, some 6 million Israelis are currently living under the threat of rocket attacks.Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, at least 1,081 rockets have been launched at Israel. 845 of those rockets hit Israel, and approximately 191 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Hamas claimed responsibility for most of the rockets fired, including those fired at the coastal plain south of Haifa, Dimona, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The IDF has targeted over 1,576 terror targets, from the air and the sea. Among the sites targeted by the IDF are: long-range rocket launchers, Hamas leadership facilities, terror and smuggling tunnels, fuel-smuggling tunnels, compounds and training sites, communications facilities, air defense elements, concealed launchers, and additional sites used for terror activities targeting Israel, including command and control centers.
According to reports in the Palestinian media, Hamas claimed responsibility for most of the rocket fire. While rockets and mortar shells fell in Israel's south, there were two attempts to fire rockets from Lebanese territory. In the assessment of IDF sources, pro-Palestinian elements in Lebanon were behind the rocket fire.
Since July 8, 27 rockets fired from Gaza have fallen within the Gaza Strip. Hamas fires from civilian areas... and hits its own people.
On Sunday, July 13, a rocket fired from Gaza hit electricity infrastructure in Israel that supplied power to Gaza, cutting power to about 70,000 people in Gaza.
Background
Since the beginning of the year, until the launching of Operation Protective Edge, Gaza terrorists fired more than 450 rockets towards Israeli citizens. The attacks sent thousands running into bomb shelters, threatening millions of Israeli lives. In order to restore quiet to the region and stop Hamas terrorism, the IDF has commenced Operation Protective Edge.
Since Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012, Hamas has continued to arm itself with vast amounts of weaponry and is currently in possession of 10,000 rockets. Hamas deliberately and systematically exploits Palestinians and uses them as human shields when firing at Israel. With the increased range of rockets, some 6 million Israelis are currently living under the threat of rocket attacks. No nation would accept this reality.
Although Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense system stops some of the attacks, most rockets are capable of reaching Israel’s biggest cities. More than half a million Israelis have less than 60 seconds to find shelter after a rocket is launched from Gaza into Israel. Many have only 15 seconds.