The following is a list of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel in 2009 by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip.
Over the course of 2009, 569 rockets and 289 mortars (a total of 858)[1] were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, in comparison to 2,048 rockets in 2008. Out of these, 406 were fired during the Gaza War, which ended on 18 January, and 160 were fired during the rest of the year.[2]
January
- January 1, 2009 – January 18, 2009
- The Gaza War, which began in late 2008, ended on January 18, 2009. For Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel during this period, see Gaza War (2008–09)#Rocket attacks into Israel.
- January 31, 2009
- One Grad rocket struck south of Ashkelon after a Color Red alert sounded in the city. The projectile struck an open field in the city. No injuries were reported in the attack.[3]
February
- February 1, 2009
- Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least five Qassam rockets and 14 mortar shells at southern Israel.
- Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers and an Israeli civilian were lightly wounded when four mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip exploded near them in the Sha'ar Hanegev region of the western Negev.
- Three rockets struck the Eshkol region, two of them landing in open fields and the third between two kindergartens. A fourth rocket struck an open field in the Sdot Negev Regional Council area and a fifth exploded in Nir Am, near the Gaza border. No casualties or damage were reported in any of the strikes.
- Four mortar shells struck the Eshkol region of the western Negev earlier on Sunday, as well. No injuries or damage were caused.[4]
- Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least one Qassam rocket and 3 mortar shells at southern Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it targeted the gunmen who had fired the mortars.[5]
- February 3, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired a Grad into Ashkelon on Tuesday. Mayor Benny Vaknin told Israel Radio that a Grad rocket "struck the heart of a residential neighbourhood". "To the best of my knowledge, when it is a Grad rocket, it is from Hamas," Vaknin said.[6]
- February 4, 2009
- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a mortar shell at southern Israel, which exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council. Three people were treated for shock after the attack, but there were no casualties.
- February 6, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired two rockets from the coastal strip into Israel. The first of the rockets hit the Sha'ar Hanegev region. Three hours later, a rocket hit near the coastal city of Ashkelon. The attacks caused no casualties.
- February 8, 2009
- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a Grad rocket at Ashkelon. The rocket attack on the southern town caused neither casualties nor damage. Earlier that day, a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck the western Negev. The IDF said one car was set ablaze and several others were damaged by shrapnel. No injuries were reported.[7]
- February 10, 2009
- A Qassam rocket struck the western Negev during the day of the 2009 Israeli legislative election.[8] Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired the rocket just half an hour before the polls were to close.[9]
- February 11, 2009
- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired four mortar shells at the western Negev [some versions indicate only two mortar shells] during the course of the day Wednesday.[10]
- February 13, 2009
- Two Qassam rockets and a mortar shell fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip exploded in the western Negev, causing no casualties or damage. One of the rockets struck an open field in the Eshkol Regional Council and about an hour later another hit near the city of Sderot.
- February 15, 2009
- A rocket struck southern Israel late Sunday night in the Sdot Negev area[11]
- February 16, 2009
- Palestinian rockets hit Israel Monday morning. Two rockets fired from Gaza one hitting an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev region and the other hitting inside a kibbutz in the Sdot Negev region. No injuries were reported in either incident, but some property sustained damage.
- IAF jets bombed the Philadelphi route, an area of smuggling tunnels near Gaza's border with Egypt in response to the rocket fire.[12]
- February 18, 2009
- On Wednesday, a Qassam rocket hit the western Negev. The rocket exploded in a field in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, causing no casualties or damage.[13]
- February 19, 2009
- Five Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev. Two in the morning hitting the Eshkol region and three in the evening, one hitting near Sderot and the other two near Netivot. The rocket attacks caused neither casualties nor damage. The IAF bombed six smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border in response to the morning rocket fire. The attack caused secondary blasts, according to the IDF, which showed that explosives were hit in the airstrike. There were no reports of casualties.[13]
- February 20, 2009
- Gaza militants fired 10 mortar shells and a Qassam rocket into the western Negev on Friday[14]
- February 21, 2009
- A rocket struck Ashkelon[14]
- February 22, 2009
- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday fired two mortar rounds at Israel Defense Forces soldiers near the border, Israel Radio reported. Earlier a Qassam rocket hit the western Negev. There were no casualties or damage reported in either incident.[14]
- February 23, 2009
- Two Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev. One in the morning landed near Sderot and one in the afternoon landed near a kibbutz.[15]
- February 25, 2009
- Two Qassam rockets struck the Sha'ar Hanegev region in the western Negev on Wednesday. There were no reports of casualties in either incident. As a response, The Israel Air Force bombed smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border. There were secondary explosions, showing they contained weapons material.[16]
- February 26, 2009
- Three Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. One of the rockets damaged two houses in Sderot early in the morning and the other landed near an industrial zone. A woman and her son were treated for shock.[17] In the evening, a rocket struck an open field in the Eshkol Region.[18]
- February 27, 2009
- Two Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza. One struck the western Negev while the other hit the Sdot Hanegev area. No casualties or damage were reported in the incidents.[19]
- February 28, 2009
- Ten rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Six rockets targeted Gaza-area communities, two hit Ashkelon, one landed in the Eshkol district and one near the Sdot Negev area. There were no casualties or property damage, with the exception of one rocket that struck an empty schoolyard in Ashkelon. The school itself was severely damaged, with shrapnel hitting some of the classrooms (including areas the Defense Ministry had defined as safe). Several people were treated for shock by paramedics who arrived at the scene. Following the attack, Deputy Mayor Cohen of Ashqelon met with the commander of the Home Front Command Southern District. They decided the school would be closed on 1 March, while its students would be sent to an alternative venue. All other schools in the city will function as usual.[20]
March
- March 1, 2009
- 7 rockets were launched into Israel, one of which struck a yard in Sderot. No one was hurt in any of the attacks.[21]
- March 2, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired a rocket into the southern city of Ashkelon from the Gaza Strip Monday evening. No one was hurt and no damage was caused in the attack.[21]
- March 5, 2009
- Palestinian militants launched a barrage of Qassam rockets and mortar rounds into Israel on Thursday. They fired six Qassams from the Hamas-controlled territory into the western Negev; all struck open areas, and caused no damage or injuries. Two mortar shells struck near the Nahal Oz region, also causing no casualties.
- Later on the evening, Palestinian militants fired a Grad rocket that struck a synagogue in the southern town of Netivot, causing light damage to the building. The Israel Air Force retaliated shortly after the attack, striking four smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, the army said. No one was wounded in the rocket attack on Netivot.
- In a statement issued after the strike on the tunnels, the Israel Defense Forces said: "As the sole authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas bears full responsibility for all terror originating within its area of control. The IDF will continue to respond to any attempts to destabilize Israel's South."[22]
- March 7, 2009
- At least three rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, hitting the western Negev.
- March 8, 2009
- On Sunday morning, militants in Gaza fired four Qassam rockets at the western Negev. Three rockets hit the Eshkol region and one struck the Sdot Negev region. No injuries or damage were reported in any of the incidents, but the early warning siren was not activated, causing panic among some local residents.
- The Israel Defense Forces reported they targeted a weapons warehouse used by militants and bombed two smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border. Hamas security officials said that the warehouse was empty and no one was injured.[23]
- March 10, 2009
- Militants fired four rockets at Israel on Tuesday, the IDF said.[24]
- On Tuesday morning, militants in Gaza fired two Qassam rockets at the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported in either of the incidents.[25]
- Later two more rockets were fired. The Israel Defense Forces says its aircraft hit a Palestinian rocket squad in Gaza just after the militants fired the rockets. Palestinian security says three people were wounded. The airstrike took place in northern Gaza, the most frequent launching area for rockets.[24]
- March 11, 2009
- Shortly afterwards, two rockets struck the Eshkol region in the western Negev. The rockets hit open areas, causing no casualties. Later, in the afternoon, two additional Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit the western Negev, one of them striking a canister of natural gas in the Sha'ar Hanegev region. The canister did not explode, and no injuries were reported in either incident.[26] Along the day, two Israeli "women were treated for shock." in relation with the rockets[27]
- March 13, 2009
- Three rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. One was fired in the morning hitting the Eshkol region. The other two were fired in the evening hitting the western Negev. No injuries or damage were reported.[28]
- March 24, 2009
- A Qassam rocket was fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The rocket landed in an open area south of Ashkelon and caused no injuries or damage.[31]
April
- April 1, 2009
- Three Qassam rockets were fired by Gaza militants from the Strip into Israel.[32]
- April 15, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired a Qassam rocket into the western Negev on Wednesday, ending a 2-week lull in cross-border rocket fire. The rocket exploded in the Eshkol region, causing neither casualties nor property damage.[32]
- April 30, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired a Qassam rocket into southern Israel. The rocket landed near a kibbutz, but "no injuries or damage" were reported.[33]
May
June
- "...in mid June... Palestinians fired two projectiles in the space of 24 hours."[35]
July
- July 16, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired a Qassam rocket into southern Israel. The rocket landed in the Sdot Negev region and no damage was reported.[35]
August
- August 9, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired mortars into southern Israel. During one round, the mortars landed two mortar shells struck near the Erez Crossing, just yards away from ambulances that were transferring a Palestinian heart patient to Israel for treatment." During another round, shells "landed nearby a group of IDF engineers."[36]
- August 24, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired mortar shells into southern Israel. The mortar shells landed near an IDF base and injured an Israeli soldiers.[37]
- August 29, 2009
- A rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip "landed in the western Negev."[38]
- August 30, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired mortar shells into southern Israel. The mortar shells were aimed at the Israeli civilian city of Sderot.[38]
- August 31, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired rockets into southern Israel. As of the afternoon of 31 August, the landing spot for the projectiles have not been located.[38]
September
- September 3, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired mortar shells into southern Israel. The shells "landed in an open areas in the western Negev."[39]
- September 15, 2009
Jerusalem post reported Police: Terrorists fired 2 phosphorus shells into Israel, IDF predicts wave of rockets from Strip, including 10 yesterday, will end after Succot; IAF bombs south Gaza tunnel, killing 1 The attacks from the Gaza Strip escalated on Wednesday with 10 rockets and mortar shells fired into Israel – including two containing phosphorus – as defense officials predicted that the violence would quiet down after Succot., [40] One of the rockets – a 122-mm. Katyusha[40] – hit just north of Ashkelon.
- September 20, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into southern Israel, which "exploded in open areas in the western Negev."[41]
- September 24, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into southern Israel, which "hit an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel. "[42]
- September 28, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into southern Israel.[43]
- September 29, 2009
- Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into southern Israel.[43]
October
- October 2, 2009
- Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip fired Qassam rockets into Shaar Hanegev in southern Israel.[43]
November
- November 2, 2009
- A Qassam rocket was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, landing in an open field in the Shaar Hanegev region. No injuries or damage were reported.[44]
- November 13, 2009
- A Qassam rocket was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, landing in an open field in the Sdot Negev regional. No injuries or damage were reported.[45]
- November 21, 2009
- A Qassam rocket was fired in the morning at the city of Sderot prior to an agreement among Gaza factions to end the rocket attacks. The rocket landed in an open area in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council causing no injuries or damage.[46][47]
- November 23, 2009
- A Qassam rocket was fired at southern Israel 48 hours after Hamas announced "that it secured an agreement" among Gaza factions to end the rocket attacks. "[T]he rocket exploded near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council" causing no reported injuries or damage.[48]
December
- 16 December
- Two rockets were fired into Israel and landed in an open area near Sderot.[49]
- 30 December
- A Palestinian mortar shell fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip landed in an open area in the Eshkol region. Nobody was wounded and no damage was reported.[50]
- 31 December
- Two Russian-made Grad rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, one hitting the city of Netivot at around 9:30 p.m. The Red Color early warning system failed to go off. One woman suffered shock and no damage was reported. The incident marked the first instance since the Gaza War where Palestinian militants used a rocket of this type.[51] The Israel Air Force bombed two smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip overnight Friday in response to a rocket fired by Gaza militants that hit the southern Israeli town of Netivot on Thursday evening. Militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed responsibility. Israel responded on 1 January by bombing two smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said Israel struck several targets, and four people were lightly injured.[52]
See also
References
- ^ Israeli Security Agency 2010 Annual Summary – Data and Trends in Terrorism Archived 2017-04-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 'Dozens of terror infiltrations foiled' Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, Jerusalem Post 30-12-2009
- ^ "Palestinians in Gaza launch Grad rocket into Ashkelon - Haaretz - Israel News". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ "Two IDF soldiers, civilian lightly hurt as Gaza mortars hit Negev - Haaretz - Israel News". Archived from the original on 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ "Qassam hits Negev after IAF strikes Gaza gunmen - Haaretz - Israel News". Archived from the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ "Militants fire Grad into Ashkelon for first time since Gaza op". Haaretz.com. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Two Gaza rockets strike west Negev as truce talks progress". Haaretz.com. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Kassam hits before polls close." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 10 February 2009. 10 February 2009.
- ^ "Qassam strikes near Sderot, half an hour before election polls close". Haaretz.com. 10 February 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Gaza militants fire four mortar shells at western Negev". Haaretz.com. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Hamas Bombards Southern Israel - Defense/Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "IDF bombs smuggling tunnels in Gaza after 2 Qassams hit Negev". Haaretz.com. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ a b "3 Qassam rockets strike western Negev; no one hurt". Haaretz.com. 19 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Gaza militants fire Qassam rocket, mortar rounds at Israel". Haaretz.com. 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Kassam rockets hit Israel, attack thwarted." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 23 February 2009.
- ^ "IAF bombs Gaza tunnels after rockets hit Negev". Haaretz.com. 25 February 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Kassam damages two Sderot homes." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 26 February 2009. 26 February 2009.
- ^ "Kassam rocket strikes Eshkol Region." Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post. 26 February 2009.
- ^ "At least six Gaza rockets hit southern Israel". Haaretz.com. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Ten rockets hit southern Israel, one damages Ashkelon school". Haaretz.com. 1 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Gaza rocket hits Ashkelon, Israel files complaint with UN". Haaretz.com. 2 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Rocket hits synagogue in Netivot; IAF bombs Gaza tunnels". Haaretz.com. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Four rockets hit Negev as IAF bombs Gaza targets". Haaretz.com. 8 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Israeli aircraft strike Gaza rocket squad, wounding three". Haaretz.com. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Brodsky, Marc. "Two rockets hit western Negev." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 10 March 2009. 10 March 2009.
- ^ "Gaza rocket hits gas canister in western Negev". Haaretz.com. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Kassams hit Israel again." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 11 March 2009. 11 March 2009.
- ^ "2 Qassams hit Negev day after Hamas condemns rocket fire". Haaretz.com. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Qassam rocket hits Ashkelon area after 10 day lull". Haaretz.com. 24 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Hadad, Shmulik (24 March 2009). "Qassam lands south of Ashkelon". ynet. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Kassam fired at Israel." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 24 March 2009. 24 March 2009.
- ^ a b "Barak: Israel to weigh response to Qassam attack". Haaretz.com. 15 April 2009. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Kassam lands in southern Israel., Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 30 April 2009, archived from the original on 10 September 2012, retrieved 8 September 2009
- ^ "Kassam strikes Israel Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine."] JTA. 11 May 2009. 11 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Palestinians fire Kassam after long lull." Jerusalem Post. 16 July 2009.
- ^ "Two mortars fired at Erez Crossing." Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post. 10 August 2009. 10 August 2009.
- ^ "Israeli soldier injured by Gaza mortar." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 24 August 2009. 24 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Rockets fired from Gaza at Israel." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 31 August 2009. 31 August 2009.
- ^ "Five mortar shells hit w. Negev." Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post. 3 September 2009. 3 September 2009.
- ^ a b Police: Terrorists fired 2 phosphorus shells into Israel Archived 2013-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, YAAKOV LAPPIN, jpostSep 15 2009,
- ^ "Two Kassam rockets launched from Gaza Strip." Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post. 20 September 2009. 19 September 2009.
- ^ "Qassam hits southern Israel." Archived 2016-11-16 at the Wayback Machine YNet. 24 September 2009.
- ^ a b c "Gaza rocket fire increases." Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 2 October 2009. 4 October 2009.
- ^ Qassam fired at southern Israel Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Ynet News 02-11-2009
- ^ "Rocket Hits southern Israel amid Gaza turbulance." Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post. 13 November 2009. 13 November 2009.
- ^ "Hamas: All Gaza militant groups agree to halt rocket attacks" Archived 2010-03-16 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz. 22 November 2009.
- ^ "Hamas: Rocket deal finalized" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine YNet. 21 November 2009. Ali Waked
- ^ "Kassam rocket strikes Israel." Archived 2012-08-19 at the Wayback Machine JTA. 23 November 2009. 23 November 2009.
- ^ Curiel, Ilana. "Mortar shell lands in Negev" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Ynetnews, Israel, December 30, 2009.
- ^ Palestinians fire mortar shell at Eshkol region; none wounded Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine, Jerusalem Post 30-12-2009
- ^ Grad-type rocket fired from Gaza Strip lands in Netivot Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine, Jerusalem Post 31-12-2009
- ^ Israel strikes Gaza targets after Grad rocket attack Archived 2010-03-30 at the Wayback Machine, Haaretz 02-01-2010