Israel reports sharp rise in rocket attacks from Gaza in 2017
Xinhua,January 08, 2018 Adjust font size:
JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 35 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel in 2017, compared with 15 in 2016 and 21 in 2015, according to the statistics from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the number of "terror" attacks either in the West Bank or by "terrorists" who came from the West Bank totaled 99 in 2017, a substantial drop from 269 in 2016 and 226 in 2015, the IDF statistics reported.
The IDF said that 20 people were killed and 169 wounded in "terror" attacks in 2017, while 17 killed and 263 wounded in 2016. In 2015, in total, 28 people were killed and 360 wounded.
A total of 42 weapon workshops which were believed to have been used to manufacture firearms were uncovered or sealed, while 455 guns that were illegally owned by Palestinians were confiscated by the Israeli army, according to the IDF figures.
In retaliation to the rocket attacks, the IDF struck 59 targets in the Gaza Strip in 2017, including rocket launches and training camps, weapons production sites, observation posts and more, according to the IDF's figures.
As for the rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, the IDF said it holds Hamas responsible for all rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Enditem