(Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

In 2018, Palestinian terrorists launched close to 300 rockets into Israel. 

By: United with Israel Staff

Palestinian terrorists have fired a record number of 289 rockets and mortar shells from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the beginning of the year, the Defense Ministry said, according to Ha’aretz.

This number of explosive projectiles fired at Israel is more than any recent year, including the period prior to Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.

In comparison, before the beginning of the fighting in Gaza that summer on July 8, only 205 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel from Gaza. In total, 4,897 missiles were fired at Israel in 2014 as a result of the 50-day conuter-terrrosim campaign in the Strip.

In all of 2017, only 35 such incidents were recorded, compared to 15 in 2016 and 21 in 2015.

In the most recent attack, Israelis living in proximity to the Gaza Strip spent another sleepless night in bomb shelters when at least 12 rockets were fired on June 27 at the city of Sderot, Sha’ar HaNegev, Hof Ashkelon, and Eshkol Regional Councils.

There were no injuries or damage reported.

The IDF’s Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted three explosive projectiles.

Earlier in June, Israeli citizens in the south experienced the most violent night since Operation Protective Edge as Hamas fired 45 rockets at civilian targets.

In response, Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets targeted 25 Hamas military targets throughout the Strip, including an underground training compound and a cement factory belonging to the terror group.

The tensions on the border with Gaza remain high, as kite terrorism persists on a daily basis and terrorists constantly attempt to breach the border.