Overview: This past week five mortar shell hits and one rocket hit were identified in Israeli territory. The IDF responded by attacking terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas figures said they wanted the lull to continue and blamed Israel for the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian media reported that Hamas´ internal security forces had been instructed to deal assertively with rocket launchers.

The Palestinian Authority continued its diplomatic attack to achieve international recognition for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas said that September 2011, the date given by American President Obama for completing the negotiations, was the target date for establishing the Palestinian institutions which would "pave the way to the Palestinian state."

Important Terrorism Events - Gaza Strip

Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire

On December 24 a rocket hit was identified in an open area in the western Negev. There were no casualties and no damage was done.

This past week five mortar shell hits were identified in Israel territory. Most of the mortar shells fell in open areas. There were no casualties and no damage was done. The military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the mortar shell fire on December 22 (DFLP website, December 22, 2010).

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