For the past seven years, Palestinian terrorist groups have been deliberately firing rockets and mortar shells at Israeli civilians. In Aug. 2005, Israel evacuated all of its civilians from the Gaza Strip, withdrew all of its armed forces and dismantled all of the settlements there in the hope of advancing peace with the Palestinians. [1]

World leaders backed the plan and said it would help make Israel more secure. Germany’s foreign minister at the time, Joschka Fischer, said, “The opportunities that arise from the pullout must now be used to improve both security and the economic situation, and to advance the peace process. As for the Palestinians, they must bring forward reforms to ensure efficient governance, and they must respect the ceasefire.” [2]

Since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, more than 4,000 rockets have been fired at Israel. These rockets are killing innocent people including children; maiming and injuring hundreds; and causing exceptional levels of trauma, anxiety and other psychological problems amongst the residents of southern Israel, in particular among the children of Sderot. [3]

Timeline of Deaths Caused by Rocket Attacks during the Peace Process*

July 11-25, 2000: Camp David Summit - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat meet at Camp David with U.S. President Bill Clinton to try to reach final status agreement. The summit fails largely due to Arafat’s refusal to make any concessions. [4]

Oct. 27, 2001: First Rocket Fired from Gaza – Hamas fires the first Palestinian-made rocket, labeled Qassam 1, at Kibbutz Nir-Am in southwest Israel. [5]

In 2001, 249 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (245 mortars and 4 rockets). [6]

Nov. 24, 2001: St. Sgt. Barak Madmon from Holon, 26, is killed by a mortar strike while on reserve duty in Kfar Darom.

In 2002, 292 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (257 mortars and 35 rockets). [7]

Apr. 30, 2003: Roadmap for Peace Announced - Based upon the principles of the Oslo Accords, the road map calls for reciprocal steps by both sides towards fulfilling security and political obligations. [8]

In 2003, 420 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (265 mortars and 155 rockets).[9]

June 28, 2004: Mordechai Yosephus, 49, is killed when a rocket fired by Hamas lands near a kindergarten in Sderot.

June 28, 2004: Afik Ohion Zehavi, 4, is killed when a rocket fired by Hamas lands near his nursery school in Sderot.

Sept. 24, 2004: Tiferet Tratner, 24, is killed in her home by a mortar attack on Neve Dekalim.

Sept. 29, 2004: Yuval Abeva, 2, is killed by a rocket fired by Hamas while playing outside with Dorit (Masarat) Benisian, 2, also killed in the attack. The toddlers were of Ethiopian origin. Twenty others were injured.

Oct. 28, 2004 - Sgt. Michael Chizik, 21, of Tiberias, is killed by a mortar attack on the Morag outpost in Gush Katif in Gaza.

In 2004, 1,157 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (876 mortars and 281 rockets). [10]

Jan. 2, 2005 - Nissim Arbiv, 26, of Nissanit, is severely injured by a mortar shell in the Erez industrial zone in northern Gaza. He died from his injuries ten days later.

Jan. 15, 2005: Ayala Haya (Ella) Abukasis, 17, is seriously wounded and rendered brain damaged by the shrapnel from a Qassam rocket attack. Abukasis was hit while falling on her younger brother to protect him from the attack. After remaining on life support a week following the rocket attack, she died on Jan. 21, 2005.

June 7, 2005: Muslah Umran is killed while working in a greenhouse in Ganei Tal.

June 7, 2005: Muhammad Mahmoud Jaroum is killed while working in a greenhouse in Ganei Tal.

June 7, 2005: Bi Shude, 46, is killed while working in a greenhouse in Ganei Tal. Shude was a Chinese national.

July 15, 2005: Dana Gelkowitz, 22, is killed by a rocket fired at Moshav Nativ Ha'asara, just north of the Gaza Strip.

Aug. 2005: Israel’s Unilateral Disengagement from the Gaza Strip - Israel withdraws 9,000 citizens from the Gaza settlements and hands the entire territory over to Palestinian control. [11]

Dec. 14, 2005: Jitladda Tap-arsa, 20, is killed while working in a greenhouse in Ganei Tal. Jitladda was a Thai national.

In 2005, 417 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (238 mortars and 179 rockets).[12]

March 2006: Palestinian Parliamentary Elections - Hamas wins the Palestinian parliamentary elections and forms a government. [13]

March 28, 2006: Salam Ziadin and Khalid, 16, a Bedouin father and son, are killed when a Qassam rocket they stumble across in the Nahal Oz area explodes.

Nov. 11, 2006: Fatima Slutzker, 57, is killed when a rocket hits the street where she is walking near the home of Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Nov. 21, 2006: Yaakov Yaakobov, 43, is severely injured while at work in a Sderot poultry processing plant. He died from his wounds on Nov. 22, 2006.

In 2006, 968 rockets and mortar shells are fired by Palestinian terrorist groups (22 mortars and 946 rockets).[14]

May - June 2007: Hamas Conquers Gaza Strip - Hamas and Fatah militias in Gaza wage war against each other, resulting in a Hamas victory and its de facto control over the whole Gaza Strip. [15]