- In 2001 Hamas militants invented the Qassam rocket.
- Between 2001 and 2002 Hamas fired 39 of these rockets into Israel.
- In 2006 Hamas were elected into cabinet and Qassam attacks increased by 426%
- In 2007 Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. Hamas reacted by firing nearly 2,000 rockets into Israel the following year.
- Between December 2008 and January 2009 Israel executed Operation Cast Lead, a military incursion into the Gaza Strip. Hamas miscalculated the impact that the blockade on their ability to rearm and mistakenly used up the last of their Qassams reserves.
- After Operation Cast Lead only 106 rockets were fired into Israel in 2009; the lowest levels since 2003.
- The blockade on Gaza had been an incredible Israeli security success, since then there has been a considerable increase in militant groups attempting to breach the blockade and rearm Hamas. (source)
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