Decline in Terror Fatalities in 2004
The number of Israelis killed in terror attacks declined 45% in 2004 from 214 to 117. The number of wounded dropped 41% from 1004 in 2003 to 589 in 2004.
In 2004, 0.4% of the total number of attacks were suicide bombings, a total of 15, which caused 55 deaths (48% of the total killed). In 2003, 26 suicide attacks killed 144 people. In 2003, 12 large-scale attacks killed 74 people and wounded 374. In 2004, two such attacks killed 14 and wounded 106.
In 2004, security forces foiled 367 suicide attacks in Judea and Samaria, 352 were arrested in their homes after they'd agreed to be involved, and 13 were intercepted on the way to an attack. Another 159 terrorist attacks were foiled on the verge of being perpetrated.
Because of Israeli counterterror measures, in particular, the construction of the security fence, terror groups began to rely more on young people whose appearance would arouse less suspicion. In 2004, the number of minors involved in terrorism jumped 64%. In 2003, 102 minors and 59 women were involved in attacks; in 2004, 61 women and 168 minors.
In 2004, the Tanzim was involved in 97 terrorist attacks, down from 117 a year earlier. Hamas perpetrated 555 attacks in 2004, up from 218 in 2003. Islamic Jihad engaged in 106 attacks in 2004 as opposed to 71 in 2003.