ASSESSMENTS

Israel Faces a Significant Threat of Rocket Fire From Gaza in May

May 4, 2019 | 09:00 GMT

An Iron Dome battery, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, is pictured on March 30, 2019, in the Israeli town of Ashdod.

An Iron Dome battery, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, is pictured on March 30 in the Israeli town of Ashdod.

(JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

Anyone traveling or doing business in Israel should create or review contingency plans for potential disruptions related to rocket fire in May.
Palestinian militants in Gaza might seek to launch rockets to disrupt events surrounding the Eurovision musical competition and Israeli Independence Day celebrations.
The threat of rocket and mortar fire is greatest in the immediate vicinity of Gaza, but most of Israel is in range of the most advanced rockets in Hamas' arsenal.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the deployment of air defense Iron Dome units on April 30 throughout the country in anticipation of potential rocket attacks from Gaza during May. IDF warned that Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second-most powerful militant faction in Gaza, might fire rockets at Israel to disrupt events surrounding the Eurovision musical competition, which is being held May 14-18 in Tel Aviv, and/or the May 8-9 Israeli Independence Day celebrations. May will also see the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which starts May 5 or May 6, and Nakba Day on May 15, the annual Palestinian commemoration of the displacements and other upheavals that followed the creation of the modern state of Israel. The last three events have all previously triggered conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Those traveling or doing business in Israel should create or review contingency plans for potential disruptions related to...

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