On Sept. 7, Israeli authorities reported foiling a suicide strike by
Hamas in Jerusalem in August. Officials said ISA intercepted an explosive
belt in Jerusalem 24 hours before the planned attack.
In its monthly survey, ISA, responsible for domestic security and
intelligence, said 134 of the attacks in August consisted of missile, mortar
and rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. The bloodiest operation took place
on Aug. 18 when eight Israelis were killed in a Palestinian ambush from
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
"Throughout August 2011, 145 rockets and 46 mortar shell were launched
towards Israel in 134 attacks, compared to 20 rockets and two mortar shells
in July 2011 in 18 attacks," ISA said on Sept. 7.
The survey reported an increase in attacks in the West Bank. ISA said
Palestinians struck 30 times in August compared to 25 attacks during the
previous month.
"On the other hand, Jerusalem has seen a slight drop in number of
attacks — six attacks as opposed to eight in July," the survey said.
In all, nine Israelis were reported killed and 55 injured, most of them
in the attack from Sinai on Israeli motorists near the southern city of
Eilat. In another attack, seven people were injured when a Palestinian
commandeered a taxi and plowed into Israeli youngsters in Tel Aviv on Aug.
29.
Hamas was deemed the major source of Palestinian attacks on Israel. ISA
said Hamas expanded significantly over the last year and established command
posts in China and Turkey.