Shin Bet security services announced Monday a sharp increase in the number of terrorist attacks in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip during the month of February. The number of attacks increased from 83 in January to 139 last month.
An increase in fire-bombings, mainly in recent violent protests in support of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, accounted for the majority of the additional attacks.
West Bank terror attacks increased from 56 in January, 2013, to 100 for the month of February. There were 38 attacks in Jerusalem in February, representing a rise of 10 from the previous month.
Explosive devices were involved in 15 of the February attacks.
On Sunday the prime minister of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip urged the continuation of what he called “the prisoners’ intifada.”
Ismail Haniyeh, who spoke at an event honoring Palestinian prisoners in Israel jails, said that the purpose of the prisoners’ protest was not designed to attract media attention, but “an honest and genuine struggle against Israel.”
“We will fight on all fronts and pay the necessary price to obtain their freedom,” he added.
