Palestinian Rocket Attacks on Israel in 2012

Rocket and mortar fire from Gaza toward Israeli civilian communities was, by 2012, a recurring feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. State Department's 2012 terrorism report described such fire as the most prevalent form of attack by Palestinian terrorist organizations and identified four major escalations during the year: in March, June, October, and November.[2] Citing figures released by the Israel Security Agency, the report stated that by the end of November 2,331 rockets had been fired from Gaza toward Israel, along with 224 mortar shells—a rocket total that exceeded the previous reported peak of approximately 2,000 in 2008.[2]

The Israeli Security Agency's own 2012 annual summary recorded 2,327 rockets launched from Gaza and 230 mortar shells for the full year, with 1,731 of those rockets fired in November and 596 in the first ten months.[1][1] Its monthly rocket-launch breakdown was: January 9, February 36, March 173, April 8, May 4, June 195, July 18, August 20, September 17, October 116, November 1,731, and December 0. The report said no further rockets were launched after the post-operation understandings were reached.[1]

The agency's monthly mortar-shell figures were: January 7, February 1, March 35, April 2, May 21, June 9, July 7, August 7, September 56, October 83, and November 2.[1] It associated changes in mortar fire with the rounds of fighting in March, June, October, and November. The Jewish Virtual Library's annual table separately lists 1,632 for 2012 but does not define the measure used in that table.[4] These totals should not be treated as interchangeable with the agency's launch figures. The agency also assessed that Gaza-originating terrorist attacks increased by approximately 33 percent over 2011.[1]

The year opened with scattered rocket and mortar attacks. The Jewish Virtual Library's date-organized chronology records one rocket hit and two mortar hits on January 1–6, two rocket hits on January 7–17, and four rocket hits and four mortar hits on January 18–24, with no casualties or significant damage reported in most of those early entries.[5] For January 25–31, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center recorded three rocket hits in Israeli territory, all of which fell in open areas without casualties or damage; its statistics excluded rockets and mortar shells that fell inside the Gaza Strip.[6]

The Israeli government's chronology records specific incidents from this period, including a rocket that fell inside Gaza on January 25, rockets landing near Netivot and Ofakim on January 31—the latter causing four people to go into shock and damaging vehicles—and a Grad rocket landing between buildings in Ashkelon on February 3, causing vehicle damage and shock but no reported fatalities.[7] A Grad rocket struck a house in Beersheba during the February 23–March 1 period, causing substantial damage and leaving four people treated for shock.[7]

The Jewish Virtual Library's chronology records five rocket hits for February 1–7, two for February 8–14, eight for February 15–21, and twelve for February 22–28, showing an upward trend before the March escalation.[5]

The year's first serious escalation began on March 9, after an Israeli airstrike killed Popular Resistance Committees secretary-general Zuhir Musa Ahmed al-Qaisi and an aide. By the early morning of March 11, ITIC recorded more than 120 rockets fired, 53 rocket hits and approximately 20 mortar-shell hits in Israeli territory, with several dozen rockets having fallen inside Gaza and 30 intercepted by Iron Dome.[8] The ITIC report noted that further rockets were fired during March 11 and described its figures as estimates current through that morning.

The Israeli government's chronology states that more than 200 rockets were fired from Gaza during the March 9–14 escalation, with 117 falling in southern Israel; Iron Dome intercepted several dozen, preventing hits on populated areas.[7] The Jewish Virtual Library's account of the March 9–15 period describes more than 300 rockets fired and 177 rocket hits identified in Israel, naming Beersheba, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Yavne, and Netivot among the affected cities and towns.[5] It reports that Iron Dome intercepted approximately 60 rockets aimed at densely populated areas and that a direct Grad hit struck a Beersheba elementary school when no one was present; approximately 30 people were injured or taken to hospitals for shock.[5] ITIC separately cited an IDF Spokesman report that Iron Dome intercepted 28 of 33 attacking rockets on March 10, described as a 90-percent interception rate.[8]

The escalation disrupted daily life for more than one million Israeli civilians.[8] ITIC attributed long- and intermediate-range fire to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and short-range fire to the Popular Resistance Committees, while reporting that Hamas apparently did not participate in the rocket attacks.[8] A contemporaneous Calcalist report described approximately 200 rocket-and-mortar falls over the four-day escalation, more than 50 rockets exploding in Israel since the preceding morning, and at least 11 interceptions by Iron Dome.[9]

A ceasefire arrangement was reported by a senior Egyptian official, though Israel and Gaza had not officially confirmed it at the time; mortar and rocket fire continued after the reported announcement.[9] For March 16–20, after a tentative arrangement with Hamas to cease rocket fire, the Jewish Virtual Library chronology records nine rocket hits and four mortar hits, plus two rockets intercepted by Iron Dome.[5] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for March was 173 rocket launches, alongside 35 mortar shells.[1][1]

Rocket fire dropped sharply after the March escalation but did not cease. The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records one rocket hit and two mortar hits on March 28–April 3, eight rocket hits on April 4–15, one on April 18–24, and two on April 25–30.[5] Notably, three rockets that struck Eilat on April 4 were fired from the Sinai Peninsula rather than from Gaza.[5] ITIC's weekly report for May 2–8 noted that the March figures included 50 rockets intercepted and destroyed by Iron Dome, and that three rockets had been fired at Eilat in April.[10]

The Israeli government's chronology records a more detailed April incident: on April 21, 12 rockets were fired at the western Negev, of which seven landed in Israeli territory; one exploded on a Sderot street near a crowded synagogue, causing property damage but no casualties.[7] On April 23, five rockets were launched at southern Israel; four fell inside Gaza and one landed in the western Negev.[7]

May saw the year's lowest levels of attack. ITIC's report for the week of May 2–8 recorded two rocket hits and one mortar-shell hit in the western Negev, all falling in open areas with no casualties or damage.[10] The Jewish Virtual Library records two rocket hits and one mortar hit for May 1–8 and one rocket hit for May 9–15.[5] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for May was four rocket launches.[1]

June brought the year's second major spike in rocket fire. On June 16, two 122-mm Grad rockets were fired toward southern Israel, with remains found near Uvda, north of Eilat, and near Mitzpeh Ramon; ITIC attributed their launch to the Sinai Peninsula and reported both fell in open areas, causing no casualties or damage.[11] Six rockets were fired into the western Negev on June 18–19, most falling in open areas with no casualties reported.[11]

The Jewish Virtual Library and Israeli government chronologies record 162 rocket hits during the principal June 19–23 escalation, with approximately 70 hitting the western Negev on June 20 alone.[5][7] Buildings, including a school in Sderot, were damaged; two civilians were wounded and others suffered slight injuries or were treated for shock.[5][7] ITIC separately reported 57 rockets falling in Israeli territory in its account of the June 18–29 escalation, including 42 rocket hits on June 19 and nine during the morning of June 20.[12] The sources do not reconcile the differing hit totals. ITIC described June 19 as the peak of the escalation and reported that a rocket set a wheat field on fire near Netivot; on June 20, rocket-related fire damaged several vehicles and three women were treated for shock.[12]

On June 19, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland condemned the rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, saying it had "dramatically and dangerously escalated in the past day" and that there was "no justification for the targeting of innocent civilians."[13] The statement urged all parties to exercise restraint.

The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records sporadic fire in the surrounding weeks, including a June 4 rocket that set a wheat field near Ashkelon on fire, a June 27 rocket that damaged a chicken coop, and two rockets targeting Netivot on June 27 that were intercepted by Iron Dome.[5] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for June was 195 rocket launches, the highest monthly total outside November.[1]

July saw reduced but steady fire. The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records three rocket hits in each of the July 4–10, July 11–17, and July 18–24 periods, followed by ten hits on July 25–31, during which one Israeli woman suffered minor wounds.[5] The Israeli government's chronology similarly records several rocket hits during July, mostly in open areas.[7]

August brought a mixed picture. ITIC's chart listed six rocket hits in Israeli territory as of August 21.[14] On August 15 at approximately 22:00, explosions in Eilat were attributed to two Grad rockets apparently launched from the Sinai Peninsula; one rocket's remains were found in a hilly area near the city on August 17.[14] A Sinai-based network calling itself the Supporters of Jerusalem claimed responsibility.[14] The Jewish Virtual Library's chronology records two Grad rockets aimed at Eilat for August 15–22 and attributes them to Sinai launches.[5]

For August 23–31, the chronology records six rocket hits, noting that three fell in Sderot on August 26 and three more on August 27—the first day of the school year—with a group calling itself the Holy Fighters of Greater Jerusalem claiming the August 27 attacks were deliberately timed for that day.[5] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for August was 20 rocket launches.[1]

September saw continued sporadic attacks with notable property damage. The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records twelve rocket hits for September 1–4, four for September 5–11, three for September 12–18, and three for September 25–October 2.[5] Two homes in Netivot were severely damaged on September 9 and some residents were treated for post-traumatic stress; the chronology attributes most attacks in the September 5–11 period to networks affiliated with global jihad.[5]

The chronology also notes that two rocket hits in Sderot on August 31 damaged two residential buildings and that a September 2 Grad hit was identified near Netivot.[5] The Israeli government's chronology likewise records four long-range rockets landing near Netivot and Beersheba during September 5–11, with two Netivot homes severely damaged and residents treated for post-traumatic stress.[7] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for September was 17 rocket launches, alongside 56 mortar shells.[1][1]

October proved to be a month of sharply intensifying fire. For October 10–16, ITIC recorded seven rocket hits in Israeli territory, including long-range 122-mm rockets in and around Netivot.[15] A rocket fired on October 12 landed in the yard of a civilian home, damaging the house, while one man was treated for shock.[15] The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records sixteen rocket hits for October 3–9 and notes that one hit a petting zoo in the Eshkol region, killing two goats and wounding nine others; during October 10–16, a Grad landed in the yard of a youth center near Netivot, with three people treated for shock, including one evacuated to hospital.[5]

For October 17–23, ITIC recorded five rocket hits in Israeli territory; one rocket fired on October 16 landed in a residential yard in the western Negev, where two civilians were treated for shock.[16] Rocket fire continued overnight from October 23 into October 24.

The month's largest surge came on October 24, following the alleged Israeli destruction of a rocket factory in Sudan. INSS reported 80 rockets fired that day and tallied 92 separate attacks for October overall.[17] The Jewish Virtual Library chronology records 105 rocket hits plus twelve mortar hits for October 24–30, with Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees claiming responsibility for most launches; a long-range Grad landed in an open area on the outskirts of Beersheba.[5] The Israeli government's chronology says more than 30 rockets landed in Israeli territory on October 29, all in open areas with no casualties reported.[7] Two more rocket hits were recorded for October 31–November 6.[5] The Israeli Security Agency's monthly figure for October was 116 rocket launches and 83 mortar shells.[1][1]

A new and intense escalation began on November 10 after a Kornet anti-tank missile struck an IDF jeep near the Gaza security fence, wounding four soldiers.[18] ITIC recorded 24 rocket hits in Israeli territory on November 10 and more than 20 additional hits during the first part of November 11; more than 50 rockets and mortar shells had been fired into Israeli territory by the afternoon of November 11.[18] Rockets caused civilian injuries and property damage, including a direct hit on a factory near Sderot.[18]

Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed that its fighters fired 88 rockets and mortar shells over November 10–11.[18] The Jewish Virtual Library's chronology records more than 150 rockets launched by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza during November 10–13, with at least 121 hits identified in Israeli territory and 64 hits on November 11 alone, alongside mortar fire, civilian injuries, and extensive property damage.[5]

On November 12, a Grad rocket from Gaza struck the yard of a house in Netivot at about 7 a.m., severely damaging the house and nearby shops; 26 people were treated at Soroka Medical Center for shock.[19] About two hours later, Grad rockets were fired toward Ashkelon: Iron Dome intercepted one and several landed in open areas.[19] On November 13, a Grad rocket landed in open ground in Ashdod without reported injuries; two Qassam rockets landed near Sderot causing no damage; and two Grad rockets were intercepted near Netivot after another Grad exploded near an industrial-area factory, damaging property and prompting treatment for shock.[20] Palestinian factions announced agreement to an Egyptian initiative for calm, but not all factions involved in the escalation had joined the discussions.[20]

Dore Gold reported that from November 10 through 14 there were 217 rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip against Israel.[21]

Operation Pillar of Defense began on November 14, 2012, with the Israeli airstrike that killed Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari.[22] The Israeli government's chronology describes a salvo of more than 50 Grad rockets aimed at southern Israeli cities as rocket fire resumed with the operation's launch.[7] ITIC reported approximately 40 rocket hits on November 14, with most aimed at Beersheba and Iron Dome intercepting 27.[23] By the afternoon of November 15, more than 200 rockets had landed in Israeli territory.[23]

Barrages aimed at Beersheba, Ashdod, Netivot, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Gan Yavneh, and Kiryat Malachi were reported in the opening days.[23] On November 15, a rocket struck an apartment building in Kiryat Malachi, killing three Israeli civilians and wounding six.[23] Ynet's summary of the operation separately reported that the Grad rocket killed three people and injured four in that building.[24] A November 15 Globes report said Iron Dome had intercepted more than 50 rockets, citing the IDF, while police reported 70 rockets fired at the Negev and 16 at the Lachish region.[22] It also described a rocket striking a Beersheba store and another damaging cars and lightly injuring a woman in a Beersheba neighborhood.[22]

The operation marked the first time longer-range rockets were directed at the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas.[2] On November 17, a rocket fired from Gaza was intercepted over the Tel Aviv area; Hamas's Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for firing a Fajr-5.[25] Islamic Jihad had fired two missiles toward Tel Aviv on the preceding Thursday.[25] A rocket aimed toward Jerusalem landed in open ground in the Gush Etzion area without causing damage, while a direct hit struck a house in the Be'er Tuvia area and five people were lightly injured when a rocket hit a house in Ashdod.[26] A Jerusalem Center analysis estimated that Gaza factions possessed 10,000–12,000 rockets by the time of the operation, compared with approximately 5,000 in 2008, and identified Fajr-5 rockets capable of reaching Tel Aviv among their arsenal.[27]

On November 20, a rocket struck an apartment building in Rishon Lezion, damaging it, neighboring buildings, and parked cars and wounding four civilians.[28] A mortar killed IDF soldier Cpl. Yosef Fartuk and civilian Alayaan Salem al-Nabari in the Eshkol Regional Council the same day; a rocket also wounded five IDF soldiers in their holding area.[5] By November 21, ITIC reported 805 rocket hits in Israeli territory since the start of the operation and more than 1,300 rockets fired.[28]

A post-operation ITIC report stated that more than 1,400 rockets were fired from Gaza during Operation Pillar of Defense and that 854 rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory.[3] Hostilities were to cease at 21:00 on November 21, but sporadic rocket fire continued until 23:00, with an estimated ten further hits.[3] The Israeli Security Agency reported that no further rockets were launched after the post-operation understandings were reached.[1] The State Department described the November 21 ceasefire as Egypt-brokered and said the United States subsequently worked with Egypt and Israel to sustain it.[2]

Ynet's operation summary reported daily launch counts of 75 on the day of Jabari's killing, 316 the following day, then 228, 237, 156, 143, and 221 on successive days, followed by 130 on the final day before the ceasefire—for an overall total described as "more than 1,500" rockets.[24] Of those, 875 exploded in open areas, 58 in built-up areas, 421 were intercepted by Iron Dome, and 152 exploded in Palestinian territory; Ynet separately reported an Iron Dome success rate of 84 percent.[24] The State Department said Iron Dome intercepted 421 rockets during the November operation, successfully engaging approximately 85 percent of rockets selected for interception.[2]

The Israeli Security Agency's figure for November was 1,731 rocket launches, making it overwhelmingly the heaviest month of 2012.[1] The agency reported six people—four civilians and two security personnel—killed by high-trajectory rocket and mortar-shell fire from Gaza during the operation.[1] The State Department identified three people killed by the direct rocket hit on the apartment building in Kiryat Malachi on November 15, two killed by mortar fire in the Eshkol Regional Council on November 20, and an IDF reserve officer who died on November 22 from wounds suffered in a November 21 rocket attack.[2]

Rocket fire in 2012 was carried out by multiple Palestinian terrorist organizations based in Gaza. During the March escalation, ITIC attributed long- and intermediate-range fire to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and short-range fire to the Popular Resistance Committees, while reporting that Hamas apparently did not participate.[8] The State Department reported that Palestinian Islamic Jihad was thought to be behind a large number of the record-setting 2,300-plus rockets launched from Gaza toward Israel across the year.[29]

Hamas claimed to have launched more than 1,400 rockets into Israel during the November 14–21 operation.[29] The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed that it fired more than 500 rockets and missiles into Israel during Operation Pillar of Defense.[29] These were group claims rather than a reconciled organization-by-organization accounting. The Popular Resistance Committees were reported to have participated in the October 24–30 escalation alongside Hamas.[5] Several attacks on Eilat were attributed to Sinai-based networks—the Supporters of Jerusalem claimed the August 15 attack—rather than to Gaza-based factions.[14]

Attacks attributed to networks affiliated with global jihad were noted in the September reporting period.[5] The Holy Fighters of Greater Jerusalem claimed the August 27 rocket attacks on Sderot were deliberately timed for the first day of the school year.[5]

The Iron Dome missile-defense system played a central role in limiting casualties throughout 2012. During the March escalation, the IDF reported that Iron Dome intercepted 28 of 33 attacking rockets on March 10—a 90-percent interception rate for that engagement—and the Jewish Virtual Library's account credits Iron Dome with intercepting approximately 60 rockets aimed at densely populated areas during the broader March 9–15 period.[8][5]

During Operation Pillar of Defense, the State Department reported that Iron Dome intercepted 421 rockets and successfully engaged approximately 85 percent of rockets selected for interception.[2] Ynet likewise reported 421 interceptions and an 84-percent success rate.[24] The Jewish Virtual Library's account of November 14–21 gives the same interception count, alongside 933 hits inside Israel and 152 rockets landing inside Gaza.[5] A Jerusalem Center analysis presented Iron Dome as a major factor in Israel's response to the rocket fire.[27]

The post-operation understandings were followed by an immediate cessation of rocket fire: the Israeli Security Agency recorded no launches in December and said no further rockets were launched after the understandings were reached.[1] The State Department described the ceasefire as producing a period of calm while Israel, Egypt, and the United States pursued efforts to curb weapons smuggling into Gaza.[2]

Sources covering the 2012 rocket attacks use differing counting categories, and their aggregate totals are not directly interchangeable. The Israeli Security Agency's annual report counts each individual rocket or mortar-shell launching separately—a salvo of three is one attack but three launchings—and gives 2,327 rocket launchings and 230 mortar-shell launchings for 2012.[1][1] The Jewish Virtual Library's annual table lists 1,632 for 2012 but does not explain what that figure counts.[4]

The State Department's terrorism report gives 2,331 rockets fired plus 224 mortar shells by the end of November, while its human-rights report gives a combined 2012 annual total of 2,327 rockets and mortar shells without separating the two categories.[2][30] The reports do not explain the difference in totals or coverage.

For Operation Pillar of Defense specifically, ITIC reported more than 1,400 rockets fired and 854 hits in Israeli territory; INSS reported over 1,456 rockets and mortars fired into Israeli population centers, approximately 409 intercepted by Iron Dome, and 58 rockets hitting urban areas.[3][17] Ynet's operation summary described the total as "more than 1,500" rockets, with 421 interceptions.[24] These figures use different categories—rockets only, rockets plus mortars, hits in urban areas, total hits, and selected interceptions—and should not be treated as directly equivalent.

Contemporary March reporting likewise mixed launches, impacts, combined rocket-and-mortar falls, and interceptions. Calcalist described approximately 200 rocket-and-mortar falls over four days, more than 50 rockets exploding in Israel since the preceding morning, and at least 11 Iron Dome interceptions.[9] Such measures cannot be combined without accounting for their different time windows and definitions.