Israel and Hamas: Another Round of Conflict (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised July 18, 2018 |
| Report Number |
IN10104 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Zanotti, Jim |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
"Periodic violence between Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip--including the Islamist group Hamas-- and Israel's military became a larger conflict on July 6-7, 2014, and Israel began a ground operation in Gaza on July 17 with the stated objective of destroying tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israeli territory. Since the initial escalation, Hamas and other Palestinian militants have reportedly launched more than 1,000 rockets into Israel with longer ranges than in past conflicts, and Israel has conducted more than 1,900 strikes on targets in Gaza. Rockets and/or mortars have also reportedly been fired on Israeli-controlled territory from Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, in some cases provoking Israeli retaliatory fire. Additionally, Israel has reportedly shot down two Hamas drone aircraft and foiled a Hamas sea raid. Though casualty figures cannot be independently verified, apparently more than 220 Palestinians--many or most of them civilians, but also some prominent Hamas operatives--have been killed, more than 1,500 injured, and several thousand displaced. One Israeli civilian has reportedly been killed, with several injuries reported to other civilians and military personnel. Daily life on both sides faces continual disruption. Israel's Iron Dome anti-rocket system has reportedly intercepted approximately 90% of rockets it classifies as threats to sensitive targets (including population centers)." This Congressional Research Service Insight provides descriptions of Qassam rockets and Iron Dome missiles, in addition to a map showing how the range of Hamas' rockets has increased since 2001.
