List of Qassam rocket attacks

From Wikipedia

Most Qassam rockets hit Sderot in Israel

Number of Mortar & Rocket hits in Israel

This is a list of notable and/or newsworthy Qassam rocket and mortar attacks in the background context of the larger number of both rocket and mortar attacks. The high frequency of background attacks does not generally appear in the international news. Qassams were first fired at Israeli targets in April 16, 2001 and have both continued and increased since then. The first time an Israeli city was hit was on March 5, 2002, when two rockets struck Sderot. Some rockets have hit as far as the edge of Ashkelon. From 2001 until May 2008, there have been over 3,050 Qassam rockets fired at Israeli targets,^[1], mainly against Sderot and the Western Negev. Fifteen (15)^{[citation needed]} Israelis have been killed and over 433 injured, along with significant property damage. Additionally, more than 2,500 mortar attacks have been launched against Israel from Gaza. This has resulted in eight (8) Israeli deaths. Qassam's have a range of 3 to 10 kilometers. Mortars have a range of 1.7 to 6.0 kilometers. The Palestinian Sariya-1 is a 240 mm mortar with a 15 kilometer range.. The Grad rocket has a 20.5 kilometer range. Most of Israel remains out of range of these weapon systems. However, over time the range of the weapons used has increased. For example the transition from Qassam 1 through to Qassam 3 the range went from 3 to 10 kilometers and the explosive payload went from 0.5 kilograms to 10 kilograms, and this is expected to rise in the future. Since at least October 2007 Gaza terrorists have been using Google Earth to search for their targets.

A radar system or "red dawn alarm", was installed by the Israeli government. Sderot had a system installed before September 2005. Ashkelon began installation in July 2005, by April 2006 the system was completely installed. Red Color alerts Israelis to incoming rocket fire, but does not alert Israelis to mortar shelling. On cold or rainy days, the radar is ineffective in detecting the rocket launches. Sderot residents have 15 seconds, once the siren goes off, to escape to a bomb shelter. In 2005 Israel started a program to fortify homes and public buildings within range of Gaza missiles. This program was expanded in 2008, the cost estimates are over one billion shekels. An Iron Dome anti-rocket system is under development by Rafael. It is expected to be operational by 2011.

The Qassam rocket attacks have resulted in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in both children and adults, with an estimated 33% of children living in Sderot suffering from PTSD .