Before ceasefires, attacks often intensify

As Israel and Hamas continue to strike while ceasefire talks are in the air, they might be continuing a pattern seen in recent conflicts — an increase in attacks right before a deal to end hostilities is set to take place.

In the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Israel tripled its forces in Lebanon on August 11, despite a UN security council ceasefire that was set to go into effect on August 14 at 8 a.m.  On the last day of the war, Hezbollah fired 250 rockets into Israel, as it sought to demonstrate that it was still standing and punching back.

During Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, it appeared by November 20 that a ceasefire was close. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Israel, and both Egypt and Hamas declared that a deal was in the works.

But November 21 saw 116 rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, compared to 80 the day before. Meanwhile, Israel struck rocket-launching squads in Jabalya and Khan Younis, and hit tunnels and underground rocket launchers. Israeli strikes that day also killed several civilians in Gaza.

Only hours before the ceasefire went into effect at 9 p.m., an 18-year-old Israeli Arab left a bomb on a Tel Aviv bus, which exploded and wounded 28 people. Israel stepped up attacks in response.

Even after the ceasefire went into effect in 2012, over a dozen rockets were shot at Israel, with at least two hitting homes in Ashdod and Beersheba, as terror groups attempted to get off their last shots.