[On April 4, Israeli authorities released an indictment against an
alleged Hamas operative. Dirar Abu Sisi, said to have studied missile
technology in Ukraine, was charged with enhancing Hamas missiles, including
increasing their range and blast impact.]
Officials said insurgency attacks increased on all Israeli fronts. The
biggest rise was from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas and its Palestinian
militias were reported to have conducted 50 missile and other attacks
against Israel.
Missile and mortar firings comprised a major element in the increase.
ISA said 38 rockets and 47 mortars were fired into Israel in March in 47
attacks. In February, six rockets and 19 mortars landed in Israel in 14
attacks.
Jerusalem also reported a significant increase in Palestinian attacks.
The ISA report said Jerusalem was struck by 42 attacks in March, up from 20
during the previous month.
In the West Bank, 36 attacks were reported, including the killing of
five members of a Jewish family. In February, ISA reported 23 insurgency
strikes.
Neither ISA nor the military sought to explain the sharp increase in
attacks. Officials said Hamas was trying to divert attention from increasing
unrest against the Islamist regime in the Gaza Strip.