NGO: Hamas rocket attacks in 2016 lowest in 11 years
Knife intifada continues but at lower intensity
By YONAH JEREMY BOBUpdated: DECEMBER 29, 2016 14:11Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, July 13, 2014(photo credit: JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Hamas rocket attacks in 2016 are at their lowest point in 11 years and over the last two years represent less than 1% of the last 11 years attacks, according to a Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Center report published late Tuesday.From 2006-2016, there have been 10,412 rocket attacks, at an average of 947 per year, the highest number being fired during Israel’s three wars with Gaza: 925 during the 2008-9 war, 845 during the 2012 war and 3,852 during the 2014 war.Only 15 rockets were fired in 2016 and only 24 in 2015, leaving a total of only 39 rockets fired in the two years following the 2014 Gaza war.In contrast, in the two years following the 2008-9 war, there were 261 rocket attacks and in the two years following the 2012 war (not including the end of 2014 which included the 2014 war) there were 412 rocket attacks.The statistics presented by the report indicate Israel’s deterrence against Hamas firing rockets is still strong and stronger than it was after the 200-9 and 2012 Gaza wars.Those statistics include only rockets which were fired into Israel, not mortars or misfired rockets which landed in Gaza.However, in other areas, the report stated that “popular terrorism and violence continue in Judea and Samaria, with stabbing attacks, shooting attacks, Molotov cocktails and throwing stones.”It added that “Hamas continues its efforts to establish networks to carry out military-type terrorist attacks,” noting the Shin Bet’s (Israel Security Agency) recent busts of a Hamas suicide bombing plot against Haifa and Jerusalem and shooting plots in the West Bank.The report listed eight “prominent incidents” over the last week of drive-by-shootings, knife attacks or violent rock throwing, many of which were not reported in the wider media – though there were also no fatalities in these attacks. In particular, on Saturday hundreds of Palestinians rioted, threw stones and burned tires, including injuring three members of Israeli security forces, during a funeral of a terrorist whose body was returned to his family.Still, overall “significant” terror attacks are down from a high of 59 in fall 2015, and a monthly average of 21 or more through April 2016, to an average of seven per month since then, with five in November and 10 in December.