1997 Mahane Yehuda Market Bombings

1997 Mahane Yehuda Market Bombings
The attack site
Location	Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
Date	July 30, 1997 13:15 pm (GMT+2)
Attack type	suicide bombings
Deaths	16 civilians (+ 2 suicide bombers)
Injured	178
Perpetrator(s)	Hamas claimed responsibility

The 1997 Mahane Yehuda Market Bombings were two consecutive suicide bombings which occurred on July 30, 1997 in the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem which is Jerusalem's main fruit and vegetable market. The site of the attack was chosen in order to cause maximum number of casualties. 16 people were killed in the attack and 178 were injured.^[1]

The attack

On Wednesday, July 30th, 1997 at 13:15 pm, two Palestinian suicide bombers who carried bags laden with explosives and nails, detonated their explosive devices in only 45 meters apart (150 feet) almost simultaneously in acentral alley in the popular outdoor market, killing 16 innocent civilians and injuring nearly 200 people, many of them teenagers and tourists.

Fatalities

The following people died in the attack:^[2]

Lev Desyatnik, 60, of Jerusalem^[3]
Regina Giber, 76, of Jerusalem^[4]
Valentina Kovalenko, 67, of Jerusalem^[5]
Shmuel Malka, 44, of Mevaseret Zion^[6]
David Nasco, 44, of Mevaseret Zion^[7]
Muhi A-din Othman, 33, of Eilabun^[8]
Simha Fremd, 92, of Jerusalem^[9]
Gregory Paskhovitz, 15, of Jerusalem^[10]

Leah Stern, 50, of Jerusalem^[11]
Rachel Tejgatrio, 83, of Jerusalem^[12]
Liliya Zelezniak, 47, of Jerusalem^[13]
Shalom (Golan) Zevulun, 52, of Jerusalem^[14]
Mark Rabinowitz, 80, of Jerusalem.^[15]
Eli Adourian, 49, of Kfar Adumim (died of his wounds on August 11)^[16]
Ilia Gazrach, 73, of Pisgat Ze'ev (died on August 29)^[17]
Baruch Ostrovsky, 84, of Jerusalem (died on October 3)^[18]

Aftermath

The day after the attack, the terrorists were identified as members of the military wing of the Hamas. As a result, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli security cabinet took a decision to strike Hamas leaders in response. As a result, Israeli Mossad agents attempted to assassinate Hamas chairman Khaled Mashal who resided in Jordan at that time. The assassination attempt failed and the Mossad agents were captured by the Jordanian authorities. They were only later released in exchange for the release of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and "spiritual leader" of Hamas who was serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison.

References

^ "Terrorist Attacks in Israel, 1994-2006". The Israel Project. May 2, 2006. http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=883997&ct=1218091. Retrieved 2010–06–17.
^ "Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles". MFA. 24 Sep 2000. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+before+2000/Fatal+Terrorist+Attacks+in+Israel+Since+the+DOP+-S.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
^ Lev Desyatnik (Hebrew)
^ Regina Giber (Hebrew)
^ Valentina Kovalenko (Hebrew)
^ Shmuel Malka (Hebrew)
^ David Nasco (Hebrew)
^ Muhi A-din Othman (Hebrew)
^ Simha Fremd (Hebrew)
^ Gregory Paskhovitz (Hebrew)
^ Leah Stern (Hebrew)
^ Rachel Tejgatrio (Hebrew)
^ Liliya Zelezniak (Hebrew)
^ Shalom (Golan) Zevulun (Hebrew)
^ Mark Rabinowitz (Hebrew)
^ Eli Adourian (Hebrew)
^ Ilia Gazrach (Hebrew)
^ Baruch Ostrovsky (Hebrew)

External links

Victims of the 1997 Mahane Yehuda Bombings