List of Palestinian suicide attacks

This article contains a non-comprehensive list of Palestinian suicide attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals and militant groups, usually against Israeli civilian targets. The use of indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations is illegal under international law.

The first suicide attack was carried out in 1989. The high point was in 2002 during the Second Intifada. The Al-Aqsa Intifada saw a dramatic upswing in suicide bombings, with A, 40% of the total number originated in East Jerusalem. A 2007 study of Palestinian suicide bombings during the Second Intifada (September 2000 through August 2005) found that 39.9% of the suicide attacks were carried out by Hamas, 26.4% by Fatah, 25.7% by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), 5.4% by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and 2.7% by other organizations. The attacks steeply declined by 2008.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has advocated classifying suicide bombings as crimes against humanity, a position adopted by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in 2002.

The criteria used for this list:

  • successful deliberate attacks committed by Palestinian militant groups or individuals against either civilians or security forces, in which the perpetrators intended to die during the attack.
  • The perpetrator(s) are not included in the death tolls noted in this list.

1980s

1989

Name Date Location Death toll Notes Ref.
Bus 405 suicide attack July 6, 1989 Near Kiryat Yearim 16 Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

1990s

1993

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Mehola Junction bombing April 16, 1993 Mehola junction 1 10 Hamas claimed responsibility. Carried out together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Beit El car bomb October 4, 1993 Near Beit El none 29 Hamas member Sulayman Zidan was responsible.

1994

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Afula Bus suicide bombing April 6, 1994 Afula 8 40 Hamas claimed responsibility. Carried out together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Hadera bus station suicide bombing April 13, 1994 Hadera 5 30 Hamas claimed responsibility. Carried out together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Dizengoff Street bus bombing October 19, 1994 Tel Aviv 22 50 Attributed to Hamas.
Netzarim Junction bicycle bombing November 11, 1994 Netzarim 3 11 Hamas claimed responsibility. Carried out together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Jerusalem bus bombing December 25, 1994 Jerusalem 0 13 Attributed to Hamas.

1995

Name Date Location Death toll Notes Ref
Beit Lid massacre January 22, 1995 Beit Lid Junction 21 Two bombers. One detonated at rescue party. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kfar Darom bus attack April 9, 1995 Vicinity of Kfar Darom 8 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Ramat Gan bus 20 bombing July 24, 1995 Ramat Gan 6 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Ramat Eshkol bus bombing August 21, 1995 Jerusalem 4 Police Chief Noam Eisenman was killed. Hamas claimed responsibility.

1996

Name Date Location Death toll Notes Ref
First Jerusalem bus 18 suicide bombing February 25, 1996 Jerusalem Central Bus station 26 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Ashkelon bus station bombing February 25, 1996 Ashqelon 2 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Second Jerusalem bus 18 suicide bombing March 3, 1996 Jaffa street, Jerusalem 19 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Dizengoff Center suicide bombing March 4, 1996 Tel Aviv 13 Attributed to Hamas. Carried out together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

1997

Name Date Location Death toll Notes Ref
Café Apropo bombing March 21, 1997 Tel Aviv 3 Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Mahane Yehuda Market attack July 30, 1997 Jerusalem main market 16 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Ben Yehuda Street Bombing September 4, 1997 Jerusalem Ben Yehuda Street 5 Hamas claimed responsibility.

1998

Name Date Location Death toll Notes Ref
Jerusalem bombing (1998) November 6, 1998 Jerusalem 2 20 wounded. Two Islamic Jihad suicide bombers.

1999

Name Date Location Deaths Injuries Notes Ref
Egged bus 960 bombing September 5, 1999 Tveria 0 1 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Haifa Central Bus Station bombing September 5, 1999 Haifa 0 0 Hamas claimed responsibility.

2000s

2000

Name Date Location Deaths Injuries Notes Ref
Gaza bombing October 26, 2000 Gaza Strip 0 1 Youth suicide bomber on bike. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Mehola bombing December 22, 2000 Mehola Junction 0 3 Hamas claimed responsibility.

2001

Name Date Location Deaths Injuries Notes Ref.
Netanya centre bombing January 1, 2001 Netanya 0 60 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Netanya bombing March 4, 2001 Netanya 0 3 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Egged bus 6 bombing March 27, 2001 Jerusalem 1 22 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Mifgash Shalom attack March 28, 2001 Kfar Saba 2 4 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kfar Saba bombing April 22, 2001 Kfar Saba 1 40+ Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Or Yehuda bombing April 23, 2001 Near Ben Gurion Airport 0 8 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Nablus school bus bombing April 29, 2001 Nablus, West Bank 0 0 Hamas claimed responsibility.
HaSharon Mall suicide bombing May 18, 2001 Netanya 5 100 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hadera bus station suicide bombing May 25, 2001 Central bus station, Hadera 0 65 2 Palestinians within a car bomb. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing June 1, 2001 Tel Aviv 21 100+ Hamas claimed responsibility.
Dugit bombing June 22, 2001 Gaza Strip 2 0 Car explosion. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Yehud suburb bombing July 2, 2001 Tel Aviv 0 6 Explosion of two separate bombs. PFLP claimed responsibility.
Binyamina train station suicide bombing July 16, 2001 Binyamina 2 11 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Moshav Beka'ot bombing August 8, 2001 Northern Jordan Valley 0 1 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing August 9, 2001 Jerusalem 16 130 Carried out by Hamas together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Wall-Street Restaurant bombing August 12, 2001 Kiryat Motzkin 0 21 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem car bombings September 4, 2001 Jerusalem 0 23 Series of car bombs.
Nahariya train station suicide bombing September 9, 2001 Nahariya Railway Station 3 94 Suicide bomber was an Arab Israeli citizen. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kibbutz Shluhot bombing October 7, 2001 Kibbutz Shluhot 1 0 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Erez Crossing attack November 26, 2001 Erez Crossing 0 2 Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Egged bus 823 bombing November 29, 2001 Haifa 3 9 Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Ben Yehuda Street Bombing December 1, 2001 Downtown Jerusalem 11 188 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Haifa bus 16 suicide bombing December 2, 2001 Haifa 15 40 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hilton Mamilla bombing December 5, 2001 Mamilla, Jerusalem 0 11 Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Hamas.
Check Post Junction bus bombing December 9, 2001 Haifa 0 30 A second unexploded device was found nearby.
Neve Dekalim bombing December 12, 2001 Neve Dekalim 0 4 Hamas claimed responsibility.

2002

Name Date Location Deaths Injuries Notes Ref.
Tel Aviv outdoor mall bombing January 25, 2002 Tel Aviv 0 25 Double Suicide attack, carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Fatah.
Jaffa Street bombing January 27, 2002 Jerusalem 1 100+ First female suicide bomber in the second intifada, Wafa Idris. Fatah claimed responsibility.
Tayibe bombing January 30, 2002 Tayibe 0 2 Fatah claimed responsibility.
Karnei Shomron Mall suicide bombing February 16, 2002 Karnei Shomron, West Bank 3 30 PFLP claimed responsibility.
Maale Adumim - Jerusalem road bombing February 18, 2002 Jerusalem 1 1 Soldier killed by an explosive that was detonated by the driver of the car he was checking. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Kissufim bombing February 18, 2002 Kissufim Crossing 3 3 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades is suspected in the incident.
Efrat supermarket bombing attack February 22, 2002 Efrat, West Bank 0 1 Suicide bomber in supermarket.
Maccabim bombing February 27, 2002 Maccabim 0 2 No group claimed responsibility.
Yeshivat Beit Yisrael massacre March 2, 2002 Jerusalem 11 50+ Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
2nd Egged bus 823 bombing March 5, 2002 Afula 1 5 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Ariel hotel lobby bombing March 7, 2002 Ariel, West Bank 0 15 PFLP claimed responsibility.
Café Moment bombing March 9, 2002 Rehavia, Jerusalem 11 54 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Egged bus 22 bombing March 17, 2002 Jerusalem 0 25 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
3rd Egged bus 823 bombing March 20, 2002 Vadi Ara 7 ~30 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
King George Street bombing March 21, 2002 Jerusalem 3 42+ Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Passover massacre March 27, 2002 Netanya 29 140 Suicide attack on Passover seder in Park Hotel. Carried out by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing March 29, 2002 Kiryat Yovel 2 28 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Allenby Street coffee shop bombing March 30, 2002 Tel Aviv 1 ~30 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Matza restaurant suicide bombing March 31, 2002 Haifa 16 31 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Efrat Medical Center March 31, 2002 Efrat, West Bank 0 4 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem Roadblock bombing April 1, 2002 Jerusalem 1 0 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Yagur Junction bombing April 10, 2002 Yagur 8 19 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jaffa Road Bus Stop Bombing April 12, 2002 Jerusalem 6 112 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
2002 Rishon LeZion bombing May 7, 2002 Rishon LeZion 16 55 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Netanya Market bombing May 19, 2002 Netanya 3 59 Carried out by Hamas together with PFLP
Afula road bombing May 20, 2002 Afula 0 0 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Rothschild Street bombing May 22, 2002 Rishon Lezion 2 40 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Pi Glilot bombing May 23, 2002 North of Tel Aviv 0 0 A bomb exploded underneath a fuel truck. The truck burst into flames, but the blaze was quickly contained.
Studio 49 Disco bombing May 24, 2002 Tel Aviv 0 2 The security guard opened fire on a Palestinian attempting to detonate a car bomb. The Palestinian was killed, but the bomb exploded prematurely, injuring bystanders. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Petah Tikva Mall bombing May 27, 2002 Petah Tikva 2 37 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Megiddo Junction bus bombing June 5, 2002 Megiddo Junction 17 38 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Herzliya shawarma restaurant bombing June 11, 2002 Herzliya 1 15 No group claimed responsibility.
Patt Junction Bus Bombing June 18, 2002 Jerusalem 19 74+ Hamas claimed responsibility.
French Hill Junction massacre June 19, 2002 French Hill, Jerusalem 6 35 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Immanuel bus attack July 16, 2002 Emmanuel-Bnei Brak bus 189 9 20 Detonation of an explosive device and shooting. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Neve Shaanan Street bombing July 17, 2002 Southern Tel Aviv 5 40 Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Nevi'im Street bombing July 30, 2002 Jerusalem 0 5 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Hebrew University massacre July 31, 2002 Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9 80 Included American and French casualties. Bomber was from East Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Meron Junction Bus 361 attack August 4, 2002 Meron Junction 9 38 Arab bomber with Israeli citizenship. Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Umm al-Fahm bombing August 5, 2002 Umm al-Fahm Junction in Wadi Ara 0 1 The Palestinian exploded in a taxi killing himself and wounding an Israeli-Arab driver from Nazareth.
2nd Umm al-Fahm bombing September 18, 2002 Umm al-Fahm Junction in Wadi Ara 1 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Allenby Street bus bombing September 19, 2002 Tel Aviv 6 ~70 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Geha road bombing October 10, 2002 Bar-Ilan interchange, Geha road 1 12 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Karkur junction suicide bombing October 21, 2002 Karkur Junction 14 40+ 2 Suicide bombers used a booby-trapped jeep with 100 kg TNT. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Sonol gas station bombing October 27, 2002 Ariel, West Bank 3 ~18 Victims killed while trying to prevent the Palestinian from detonating the bomb. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kfar Saba shopping mall bombing November 4, 2002 Kfar Saba 2 ~70 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kiryat Menachem bus bombing November 21, 2002 Kiryat Menachem, Jerusalem 11 50+ Hamas claimed responsibility.

2003

Name Date Location Deaths Injuries Notes Ref.
Tel-Aviv central bus station massacre January 5, 2003 Southern Tel Aviv 23 ~120 Carried out by two members of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, with the help of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing March 5, 2003 Carmeliya neighborhood, Haifa 17 53 Hamas claimed responsibility
London Cafe bombing March 30, 2003 Netanya 0 26 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kfar Saba train station bombing April 24, 2003 Kfar Saba 1 24 PFLP claimed responsibility jointly with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Mike's Place suicide bombing April 30, 2003 Mike's Place pub, Tel Aviv 3 50+ Carried out by Hamas using a British Muslim citizen of Pakistani descent and together with al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Gross square attack May 17, 2003 Gross square, Hebron, West Bank 2 0 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem bus 6 bombing May 18, 2003 Jerusalem 7 20 Hamas claimed responsibility.
3rd Kfar Darom bombing May 19, 2003 Gaza Strip 0 3 A Palestinian suicide bomber riding a bicycle blew up himself next to a military jeep. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Afula mall bombing May 19, 2003 Afula shopping center 3 70 Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility
Davidka Square bus bombing June 11, 2003 Downtown Jerusalem 17 100+ Hamas claimed responsibility.
Sdei Trumot bombing June 19, 2003 Moshav Sdei Trumot 1 0 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kfar Yavetz bombing July 7, 2003 Kfar Yavetz 1 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Ariel bus station bombing August 12, 2003 Ariel, West Bank 1 2 Victims were soldiers waiting at a bus station.
Rosh HaAyin bombing August 12, 2003 Rosh HaAyin 1 0 Palestinian suicide bomber at a supermarket
Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing August 19, 2003 Shmuel Hanavi, Jerusalem 23 130+ Hamas claimed responsibility.
Tzrifin bus stop attack September 9, 2003 Tzrifin 9 30 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Café Hillel bombing September 9, 2003 Jerusalem 7 50+ Hamas claimed responsibility.
Maxim restaurant suicide bombing October 4, 2003 Haifa 21 60 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Tulkarem bombing October 9, 2003 Tulkarem, West Bank 0 3 Fatah claimed responsibility.
Azzoun bombing November 3, 2003 Azzoun, West Bank 0 0 Responsibility remains unclaimed.
Geha Interchange bus stop bombing December 25, 2003 Geha Junction 4 20+ PFLP claimed responsibility.

2004

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
3rd Erez Crossing attack January 14, 2004 Gaza Strip 4 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and Hamas claimed joint responsibility.
Gaza Street bus bombing January 29, 2004 Rehavia, Jerusalem 11 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and Hamas claimed responsibility.
Liberty Bell Park bus bombing February 22, 2004 Liberty Bell Garden, Jerusalem 8 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility.
4th Erez Crossing attack March 6, 2004 Gaza Strip 2 20 Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the military wing of Fatah claimed responsibility.
Ashdod Port massacre March 14, 2004 Port of Ashdod 10 Double suicide bombing. Carried out by Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade together with Hamas.
5th Erez Crossing attack April 17, 2004 Gaza Strip 1 3 No group claimed responsibility.
Beka'ot checkpoint bombing May 22, 2004 Beka'ot checkpoint, Jordan Valley, West Bank none 1 PFLP claimed responsibility.
Beersheba bus bombings August 31, 2004 Downtown Beersheba on buses 7 and 12 16 Hamas claimed responsibility.
Sinai bombings October 7, 2004 Sinai peninsula, Egypt 34 Suicide bombing at two Sinai holiday resorts frequented by Israeli tourists: thirty-one died at the Taba Hilton and three at Ras a-Satan. Among the dead were 12 Israelis; over 120 were wounded. The attack was masterminded by Iyad Saleh and carried out by a Palestinian group.
Carmel Market bombing November 1, 2004 Tel Aviv 3 30 PFLP claimed responsibility.

2005

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Karni border crossing attack January 13, 2005 Karni crossing, Gaza Strip 6 Carried out together by Hamas with Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Popular Resistance Committees.
Stage Club bombing February 25, 2005 Tel Aviv sea promenade 5 Carried out together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and with Hizballah involvement.
1st HaSharon Mall suicide bombing July 12, 2005 Netanya 5 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Hadera Market bombing October 26, 2005 Hadera 7 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
2nd HaSharon Mall suicide bombing December 5, 2005 Netanya 5 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

2006

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
1st Rosh Ha'ir restaurant bombing January 19, 2006 Near Tel Aviv old central bus station none 32 Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kedumim bombing March 30, 2006 Kdumim, West Bank 4 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
2nd Rosh Ha'ir restaurant bombing April 17, 2006 Near Tel Aviv old central bus station 11 68 Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

2007

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Eilat bakery bombing January 29, 2007 Eilat 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claim joint responsibility.

2008

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Dimona bombing February 4, 2008 Dimona 1 9 The Damascus leadership of Hamas claimed responsibility, but it has been argued they knew nothing of it, and that the operation was undertaken at the initiative of Hamas leaders in Gaza.
Kerem Shalom suicide bombing April 19, 2008 Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza Strip 0 13 Three Palestinian suicide bombers broke through the border fence to attack the Kerem Shalom IDF post, blowing themselves up and wounding several Israeli soldiers. Hamas claimed responsibility.

2010s

2015

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
Ma'ale Adumim attempted bombing October 11, 2015 Jerusalem 0 1 Palestinian female bomber detonates a bomb in her car after being stopped by traffic cops, on the road from the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem.

2016

Name Date Location Dead Injured Notes Ref
2016 Jerusalem bus bombing April 18, 2016 Jerusalem 0 20 A member of Hamas was involved, but Hamas, while praising the act, did not claim responsibility.

See also

Sources and external links


This page was last updated at 2024-03-26 07:18 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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