Dizengoff Center suicide bombing

Dizengoff Center suicide bombing
Location Tel Aviv
Date March 4, 1996
approximately 4:00 pm (GMT+2)
Target Dizengoff Center
Attack type
 Suicide bomber
Deaths 13 Israelis (12 civilians, 1 soldier) + 1 bomber
Non-fatal injuries
 130
Perpetrators Hamas

The Dizengoff Center suicide bombing was a Hamas terrorist attack on March 4, 1996 on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Purim. The suicide bomber blew himself up outside Dizengoff Center in downtown Tel Aviv, killing 13 Israelis (12 civilians and one soldier)[1] and wounding 130 more. The attack was the fourth suicide bombing in Israel in nine days, bringing the death toll during that span to over 60.[2]

The attack

Memorial to victims of the Dizengoff Center suicide bombing

The suicide bomber detonated just before 4 pm (GMT+2) outside the Dizengoff Center, the largest shopping mall in Tel Aviv. That day the center was particularly crowded for the eve of Purim. Many in the crowd were children dressed in costume for the holiday. The bomber sought to enter the mall but turned back because of the police presence. Instead, he went into the busy intersection where a large number of pedestrians were crossing the street and set off his 20-kilogram nail bomb.[1][2] Following the attack, a phone call to an Israeli radio station apparently from a Hamas representative identified the attacker as Abdel-Rahim Ishaq, a 24 year old resident of Ramallah.[2]

Fatalities

The suicide bomber killed 13 Israelis (12 civilians and one soldier):[3] Additionally, a pregnant woman was injured in the blast and lost her unborn child.[4]

  • Kobi Zaharon, 13, of Tel Aviv
  • Yovav Levy, 13, of Tel Aviv
  • Dana Guterman, 14, of Moshav Mishmeret
  • Bat-Hen Shahak, 15, of Tel Mond
  • Hadas Dror, 15, of Tel Mond
  • Inbar Atiya, 22, of Ramat Ef'al[5]
  • St.-Sgt. Assaf Wachs, 21, of Holon
  • Tali Gordon, 24, of Givatayim[5]
  • Gail Belkin, 48, of Herzliya
  • Dan Tversky, 58, of Tel Aviv
  • Leah Mizrahi, 60, of Tel Aviv
  • Sylvia Bernstein, 73, of Hod Hasharon
  • Rahel Sela, 82, of Tel Aviv

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Suicide and Other Bombing Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles (Sept 1993)". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Serge Schmemann (5 March 2010). "Bombing in Israel:The Overiew;4th Terror Blast in Israel Kills 14 at Mall in Tel Aviv; Nine-Day Toll Grows to 61". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ "Fatal Terrorist Attacks in Israel Since the DOP (Sept 1993)". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 24 September 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  4. ↑ The Guardian. Tel Aviv bus bombing hardens Israeli public opinion against Gaza ceasefire. November 21, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Good-Bye Tali and Inbar". Tel Aviv University News. Inbar Fund. Spring 1996. Retrieved 20 May 2010.

External links