Rocket launching

High trajectory shooting is the general term for indirect firing (rockets or mortar shells), its advantage being the wide range between the launching site and the target.

From the Palestinian terror point of view – the use of this pattern – for the time being only in the Gaza Strip – is designated to overcome the Strip separation fence.

This pattern became popular mostly after the disengagement and IDF pullout of the Gaza Strip.

Recently it was the most widespread pattern from the Gaza Strip.

Following is a distribution of rocket launching attacks from the Gaza Strip:

Distribution of rocket launching** attacks from the Gaza Strip

Throughout the conflict years 4561 high-trajectory shooting attacks were carried out from the Gaza Strip, launching (since 2005) more than 6016 rockets towards Israel.

In 2006 (following the disengagement and IDF pullout from the Gaza Strip) there was an increase of 436 percent in the extent of rocket launching towards Israel compared to the previous year.

2006 is one of the peak years in terms of rocket attacks – 1247. 2008 is even higher with 1270 attacks, despite the Lull pronounced that year (since June 19), during which the launching towards Israel was substantially diminished, yet, not stopped altogether (a violation of the agreement).

Besides, since the beginning of the 2008 the average attacks was 200-300 attacks a month, and in November, towards the end of the Lull an escalation took place in the number of rocket lunching, during which hundreds of rockets were launched at Israel.

Following is an annual distribution of rocket launching attacks from the Gaza Strip since 2005:

Distribution of rocket launching attacks from the Gaza Strip between 2005-2009

Since 2005, 6092 rockets were launched towards Israel, the peak of which was in 2008 with 2048 rockets.

In 2009 there was a 72 percent decrease (following Cast Lead operation) in the extent of shooting towards Israel, being 569 rockets.

The fatalities resulting from the shooting was 18 throughout the conflict.

Following is an annual distribution of fatalities in rocket launching attacks:

Distribution of fatalities in rocket launching attacks from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the conflict

All fatalities as a result of the rocket launching are civilians. The majority (83 percent) are Israeli civilians (15) and some (17 percent, three) are non-Israelis: one foreigner and two Palestinians, killed in the Gaza Strip in 2005 by rockets launched towards Israel.