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Large increase in rocket attacks from Gaza
- Israel Air Force retaliates to protect civilians
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Radical groups, affiliated with Hamas, spread violence
Jerusalem, Dec. 21 – A Qassam rocket fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza landed in Ashkelon today near a kindergarten, injuring a young girl. At least 13 rockets and mortar rounds were launched from Gaza since Sunday (Dec. 19), according to Israeli officials.
More than 200 Grad and Qassam rockets and mortar shells have been fired from Gaza this year. Iran-backed Hamas has controlled Gaza since Israel withdrew from the area in 2005.
“The children were arriving at school this morning, at quarter to eight, when the siren blared. There was a code-red warning and everyone panicked and rushed for the safety of the bomb shelters,” Aviva Fold, Ashkelon’s kindergarten department manager told The Israel Project.
“You can wake up in the morning and feel happy and suddenly within a second everything changes. It is terrible and frightening,” Fold added.
Gaza has stepped up its launching of projectiles over the past few weeks. In response, Israel launched pinpoint strikes against terrorists and their infrastructure in order to defend the residents of southern Israel.
There are several reasons for the recent rise in terrorist activity coming from Gaza, according to Ely Karmon, counter-terrorist expert at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel.
“Hamas is in a bind. It is trying to reconstruct Gaza to take more responsibility over the quality of civilian life. Yet there are reports that Iran is providing Hamas with more sophisticated weaponry, including long-range missiles,” said Karmon.
“More radical members of Hamas are pushing for increased violence against Israel and Hamas is trying to keep the fire burning to appease those elements. It is very complicated,” he said.
When Israel withdrew from Gaza, Jerusalem hoped that would jump start the peace process and lead to a two-state solution.
