Severe damage in Beersheba caused by a barrage of rockets (Israel Police Force Facebook page, November 20, 2012).
Severe damage in Beersheba caused by a barrage of rockets (Israel Police Force Facebook page, November 20, 2012).
Demolitions experts from the Israel Police Force collect the remains of the rockets (Photo by Shuki Amzalag, IPF spokesman, November 20, 2012).
Demolitions experts from the Israel Police Force collect the remains of the rockets (Photo by Shuki Amzalag, IPF spokesman, November 20, 2012).
The attack on Hamas' Islamic National Bank (Filastin al-'Aan, November 19, 2012).
A Hebron rally for solidarity Hamas (Safa News Agency, November 19, 2012).
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi (right) meets with Khaled Mashal (Al-Alam TV, November 19, 2012).
Overview
1. On November 19 and the first half of November 20, the seventh day of Operation Pillar of Defense, rocket fire into Israel continued.
2. During the past 24 hours (especially overnight) the IDF continued massive air strikes on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Among the targets hit were terrorist facilities, rocket-launching squads and Hamas administrative sites. In addition, there were targeted killings of terrorist operatives. Noteworthy was the strike on four senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist operatives hiding on the second floor of the Al-Shorouq Tower in the heart of Gaza City, where Western and Arabic news agencies and television channels have their offices.
3. In Cairo (where the Secretary General of the UN has arrived) contacts continued to devise a mechanism for a ceasefire. Senior Hamas and PIJ figures expressed interest in a ceasefire but made it clear they were not in a hurry.
Rocket Fire into Israel
4. Rocket fire into Israeli territory continued without cessation November 19, the sixth day of Operation Pillar of Defense.
5. The main attacks on November 19 were the following:
1) Ashqelon took most of the hits. During the morning a rocket hit a school. Another school was hit in the evening. There were no casualties, but both buildings were damaged. An additional rocket hit and damaged a residential dwelling.
2) Ashdod was attacked by a barrage of rockets; there were no casualties.
3) Beersheba was attacked by a barrage of rockets in the afternoon. One rocket landed in an open area, the rest were intercepted and destroyed by the Iron Dome aerial defense system.
Rocket hits in Beersheba (Website of the ZAKA spokesman, November 20 2012).
4) A large number of rockets fell on towns and villages in the western Negev near the Gaza Strip; a woman suffered slight injuries.
6. On the morning of November 20, after a relatively quiet night, rocket fire was renewed and a barrage of rockets attacked Beersheba, Israel's largest southern city. Eight rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system. A rocket hit a bus, empty except for the driver, who was wounded by flying debris. A club was damaged, as were a house and parked cars. Rockets were also fired at towns and villages in the western Negev near the Gaza Strip. An IDF reserve officer was seriously wounded by flying rocket fragments. The rocket fire continued into the afternoon. In the assessment of the IDF Spokesman, the increase in rocket fire was the result of the serious damage done to the Palestinian terrorist organizations by the nighttime IDF strikes and their desire to make a show of strength before a possible ceasefire (IDF Spokesman, November 20, 2012).
7. At 1413 hours two long-range rockets were fired in the direction of Jerusalem. One fell in Gush Etzion (south of Jerusalem) and then other in the Hebron district. They were fired a short time before UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon arrived in Jerusalem. There were no casualties and no damage was reported.
Statistical Data
8. During the past 24 hours 72 rocket hits were identified in Israeli territory. On the morning of November 20 (as of 1030 hours) 30 rocket hits had been identified. Since the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense 708 rockets have hit Israel and more than 1,000 have been fired.
Rockets Hits in Israeli Territory since the Beginning of 2011
Note: The graph clearly illustrates the rounds of escalation and their increasing frequency during the six months until Operation Pillar of Defense. It includes 708 rocket hits identified during the operation, which still continues.
Daily Distribution of Rocket Hits in Israel's South since the Beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense
– As of November 20. The graph shows the decrease in rocket hits.
– So far 708 rocket hits have been identified in Israeli territory and more than 1,000 have been fired.
– Nine long-range rockets(of more than 40 kilometers, or 25 miles) were fired. Six either fell or were intercepted in the Tel Aviv area and three in the Jerusalem area.
Annual Distribution of Rocket Fire since the Hamas Takeover of the Gaza Strip
*Based on an estimated 708 rocket hits as of 1030 hours, November 20 (the number of launchings, in our assessment, is about three times greater than the number hits).
Claiming Responsibility for Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire
9. Hamas continues to claim responsibility for most of the rocket fire, followed by the PIJ. Other organizations have also made claims, such as the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and various networks affiliated with the global jihad (Websites of the organizations).
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