December 22, 2008The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
Overview 1. At 0600 hours on the morning of December 19 the lull arrangement ended, six months after it began, according to a unilateral announcement made by Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist organizations. Israel 's position was that the lull was unlimited in time.
2. The vicious anti-Israeli propaganda campaign launched by Hamas to accompany the end of the lull falsely represented the Palestinians as "defending themselves," and stressed their "right" to react to Israeli "aggression." The campaign, which completely ignored the continuous violations of the lull by the terrorist organizations during the past weeks, is designed to prepare world public opinion for the coming escalation from the Gaza Strip currently being initiated by terrorist organizations .
3. During the final days of the lull arrangement Israel was targeted by barrages of rocket and mortar shell fire. Since December 19, 27 rockets and 24 mortar shells have been launched, several of which landed in Sderot, Ashqelon and the western Negev towns and villages. In addition, sniper fire was directed at farmers working the fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz. The Israeli Air Force responded with a number of air attacks against squads of rocket launchers. (Note: This document is relevant to the afternoon hours of December 21. Even after it was written, rocket and mortar shell fire continued).
4. Most of the rockets in recent days were fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad ; Hamas made no attempt to stop them or the other terrorist organizations from attacking. So far, Hamas has contented itself with firing mortar shells . In our assessment, Hamas's policy of brinksmanship is intended to return to the status quo ante before the lull arrangement, an attempt keep the heat at a certain level and prevent uncontrolled escalation, although the potential for deterioration is an ever-present threat. In public, Hamas continues signaling it would be willing to renew the lull arrangement, but with what it regards as improved conditions. So far, however, it has not tried to involve the Egyptians or any other factor as mediators, or to formulate an alternative to the lull arrangement.
5. The escalation in the south was the subject of the deliberations of the weekly Israeli government meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that a responsible government was "not eager to join battle," but that Israel would not be deterred from taking the steps necessary to end the attacks. Defense Minister Ehud Barak , expressing his solidarity with the Negev residents, said that the situation in the Gaza Strip was unacceptable and that he had instructed the security establishment to ready themselves for upcoming events (Ynet, December 21).
The situation on the ground as the terrorist
organizations ended the lull arrangement
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Armed Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative (Hamas's PALDF Forum, December 16, 2008). |
The Al-Nasser regiment of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in training (Hamas's PALDF Forum, December 18, 2008). |
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 Hamas operative practices firing a gun (Hamas's PALDF Forum, December 20, 2008). |
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7. The weekend events were the following:
i) December 19 - On the morning of the end of the lull arrangement, three rockets were fired and landed in uninhabited areas of the western Negev . A few hours later farmers working in the fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz were attacked with light arms; a vehicle was damaged. In the evening, more rockets were fired, which also landed in open areas. Seven rockets and six mortar shells were fired during the day. The PIJ and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attacks.
ii) December 20 - The second day after the lull arrangement ended began with four rockets fired into Israeli territory, which landed on open areas around the Gaza Strip. The IDF attacked a squad of rocket launchers north of the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. An operative of Fatah's military-terrorist wing was killed and a number of operatives were wounded (Al-Aqsa TV, December 20). In the early afternoon another barrage of rockets and mortar shells was fired. One rocket landed in the center of Sderot , but no casualties or damages were reported. Rocket and mortar shells fire continued until the evening, with a total of ten rockets and 18 mortar shells . The PIJ claimed responsibility for most of the rocket attacks, as did Fatah's military-terrorist wing, the PFLP and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. At the same time, Hamas claimed responsibility for the mortar shell attacks . The IAF attacked another squad of rocket launchers and destroyed their equipment. Apparently, several Fatah military-terrorist operatives were injured (Qudsnet website, Paltoday website, December 20).
iii) December 21 - During the morning three rockets and mortar shells landed in Israeli territory, wounding one civilian. The IDF attacked a rocket launcher near the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. An hour later, six rockets were launched, two of them falling in the Gaza Strip. Four rockets fell in and around Sderot, one of them a direct hit on a house in the city , causing property damage; one resident was treated for shock. One of the rockets fell near an elementary school . At 10:00 a rocket landed in the industrial zone of Ashqelon . There were no casualties and no damage to property was reported. As of 1300 hours, ten rockets had been fired at Israel .
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