The Palestinian rocket arsenal used in the Arab–Israeli conflict includes a wide range of rockets and missiles, varying in design, size and payload capacity. Palestinian rockets include those locally made in Gaza and the West Bank as well as weapons smuggled from Iran and Syria. Rockets are used in attacks on Israel, mostly to target Israeli civilian centers in addition to Israeli military posts. Various Palestinian groups have used rockets against Israel including Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, as well as left-wing groups. Rockets are one of the main weapons produced by Palestinian militant and terrorist groups.

Types of rockets

al Nasser – used by Popular Resistance Committees and left-wing militant organizations al Nasser-3 al Nasser-4 al Quds – a homemade rocket used by Islamic Jihad"Israel using a variety of weapons." Daily Sabah. 22 July 2014. Al Quds 101 Al Quds 102 Arafat used by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Fatah, launched from the West Bank Arafat 1 Arafat 2 Aqsa-3 – used by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Fatah Bahaa – developed by Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade, named after Saed Bahaa, launched from West BankKlein, Aaron. "Israel deliberately minimizing rocket threat?." yNet News. 11 May 2006. Cenin – a rocket used by Fatah Fajr-5 – an Iranian artillery rocket first developed in the 1990sVital Perspective: North Korea. Retrieved on 12 May 2008. M-75 – Gazan produced Fajr-5 rocket, used in attacks on Tel Aviv, Israel's most populated city. Hamas has produced the M-75 rockets in local workshops using the drawings and documentation supplied by Iran. The location of the workshops is unknown, though Hamas has displayed their production on Gaza television stations."Hamas produces rockets as fighting winds down." The Guardian. 13 August 2014."M75 strikes Tel Aviv ." Maan News Accessed 12 August 2014. Jenin-1 – used by Fatah Kafah – used by Fatah Katyusha – an old term now used to denote the Soviet BM-21 Grad rocket launcher and the type of rocket fired from it,"Hamas Rocket Arsenal." Business Insider. July 2014. first used in 2006 in a strike that killed two Israeli Bedouin Arabs; at the time the Katyusha's range exceeded the Qassam."Katushya fired from Gaza ." BBC. 28 March 2006. Soviet designation for the rocket originally was M-21-OF, later changed to 9M22. Arash - an Iranian development of the Grad rocket KN-103 – rocket referenced in threat by Fatah,"Israel Channel 24 News ." Accessed 12 August 2014. use and existence unknown M-302 (M302), Palestinian designation R160 (R-160) – a Chinese designed, Syrian made rocket, used in attacks on cities near Jerusalem"Syrian made M302." The Jerusalem Post. Accessed 12 August 2014."Hamas firing chia designed rockets." NBC News. Accessed 12 August 2014."Long range Hamas rockets ." IBTimes. 10 August 2014. and Haifa"Rocket attacks Haifa." The Telegraph. Accessed 12 August 2014. Qassam (or Kassam) – a Gazan produced rocket used by Hamas Qassam 1 – weighs 35 kilograms and is 180 centimeters long"What are Qassams? ." Jewish policy center. Qassam 2 – weighs 40 kilograms and is 180 centimeters long Qassam 3 – weighs 50 kilograms and is 220 centimeters long Qassam 4 – weighs 40–50 kilograms and is 244 centimeters long Saria-2 – used by Tanzim Sumoud – in use by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ayyash-250 - with a range of 250 km (155 miles) - used by Hamas Badr-3 - unveiled by Palestinian Islamic Jihad in 2019, carries a 300–400 kg warhead

Anti-tank missiles Yasin RPG – used by Hamas al Bana RPG – used and developed by Hamas, in use by other factions al Batar RPG – used and developed by Hamas, in use by other factions

Rocket launchers al Quds-3 Multiple Rocket Launcher – in use by Hamas & Islamic Jihad

Impact

Palestinian attacks on Israel using rockets have killed 28 people, mostly civilians, and injured more than 1,900 people, but their main effect is their creation of widespread psychological trauma and disruption of daily life among the Israeli populace.Martin Patience, Playing cat and mouse with Gaza rockets, BBC News 28 February 2008 Medical studies in Sderot, the Israeli city closest to the Gaza Strip, have documented a post-traumatic stress disorder incidence among young children of almost 50%, as well as high rates of depression and miscarriage.Report: Missiles on Sderot increase miscarriages, Jerusalem Post 24 February 2013Study: Half of Sderot's toddlers suffering from PTSD, Ynet News 30 June 2009Israeli survey: Almost half of Sderot preteens show symptoms of PTSD, Haaretz 20 November 2012

Israel Iron Dome is Israel's first line of defense against Palestinian rockets, demonstrating an effectiveness of around 90%.Iron Dome, explained

See also Palestinian rocket attacks

References