Qassam rocket

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Qassam
Eight Qassam launchers, seven equipped with operating systems and one armed and ready to launch.
Service history
Used byPalestinian militants
WarsGaza–Israel conflict
Production history
DesignerIzz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Designed2001
ManufacturerPalestinian militants
Produced2001–current
Specifications
MassQassam 1: 35 kg;
Qassam 2: 40 kg;
Qassam 3: 50 kg;
Qassam 4: 40–50 kg[1]
LengthQassam 1: 180 cm;
Qassam 2: 180 cm;
Qassam 3: 220 cm;
Qassam 4: 244 cm[1]
DiameterQassam 1: 11.5 cm;
Qassam 2: 11.5 cm;
Qassam 3: 11.5 cm;
Qassam 4: 11.5 cm[1]
WarheadExplosive material with metal bearing balls;[2] standard explosive material[3]
Warhead weightQassam 1: 5 kg;
Qassam 2: 10 kg;
Qassam 3: 20 kg;
Qassam 4:~10 kg

PropellantSolid fuel (sugar and potassium nitrate mix)
Operational
range
Qassam 1: 5 km;
Qassam 2:12 km;
Qassam 3: 16 km

The Qassam rocket is a missile created by the military wing of the Hamas movement, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The rockets cannot be fired near civilian areas and especially not in huge population centers.[4]


Since 2001 when the first Qassam rocket was made, there have been 3 different models of the Qassam rocket. Rockets for other militant groups in Palestine are also called Qassams by the Israeli media.[5]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "What are Qassam Rockets?". Jewish Policy Center.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. "רגעי האימה של ילדי שדרות בדרך לבית-ספר". nana10.co.il. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. "שדרונט- הקסאם". sderonet.co.il. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. "Gaza: Palestinian Rockets Unlawfully Targeted Israeli Civilians". hrw.org/news/. Human Rights Watch. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  5. Rocket threat from the Gaza Strip, 2000–2007 (PDF). Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (Report). Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center. December 2007. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.