2012 Tel Aviv bus bombing

Coordinates: 32°04′40″N 34°47′29″E / 32.07778°N 34.79139°E / 32.07778; 34.79139
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2012 Tel Aviv bus bombing
Arab working with West Bank militant cell[1]
Shaul Hamelech Street, the location of the attack, pictured in 2009

The 2012 Tel Aviv bus bombing was a mass-injury terror attack carried out on November 21, 2012, on a crowded passenger bus driving in the center of Tel Aviv's business district. The attack was carried out by an

Operation Pillar of Defense
, only a few hours before the ceasefire was reached.

The attack was the first mass-injury terror attack in Tel Aviv since the 2006 Tel Aviv shawarma restaurant bombing, in which 11 people were killed and 70 were injured.[2]

Attack

At around noon, on November 21, an explosive device was detonated on a crowded passenger bus at the heart of Tel Aviv's business district. The attack was carried out on Dan commuter bus No. 142, as the bus was passing through Shaul Hamelech Street.

The explosive device contained a large quantity of metal shrapnel designed to cause maximum casualties. At least 28 people were injured in the attack, including three people who were injured severely.[3][4][5]

At Gaza's main hospital, which had seen many wounded people from

Operation Pillar of Cloud, sweet cakes were distributed in celebration.[6][7] The bus bombing was lauded from a Gaza mosque's loudspeakers[8] and celebratory gunfire was heard when news of the bombing was reported.[9]

Perpetrators

Two days after the attack, in a joint operation carried out by the

received Israeli citizenship for family reunification purposes, was arrested. Mafarji confessed to carrying out the attack and to having prepared the explosive device, chosen the target of the attack, and purchased a mobile phone which he used to remotely activate the explosive device.[1][10][11]

According to Israeli security officials, Mafarji was a member of a Palestinian militant cell based in the West Bank town of Beit Liqya, which has links to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.[1] Khaled Mashal, leader of Hamas, categorically rejected that Hamas had any connection with the bombing.

According to papers filed in court, the suspects include Ahmad Salah Ahmad Musa, a 25-year-old resident of Beit Liqya; Fuad Rabah Shukri Atzi, 27, of Beit Liqya; and Muhammed Mahfud Said Damra, a 25-year-old resident of Kfar Mazra near Ramallah. Musa was reported as being the head of the militant cell.

Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station, took a train to Modi'in, and went to the McDonald's where he worked to begin his afternoon shift. He was arrested four and a half hours after the attack.[11][13]

On December 19, 2012, Muhammad Mafaraji was charged in the Tel Aviv District Court with attempted murder, aiding the enemy during wartime, and conspiracy to commit a crime. The most serious charge of aiding the enemy carried the possibility of a life sentence. In December 2013, he reached a plea bargain with prosecutors, under which he pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aiding the enemy in exchange for the prosecution not seeking a sentence greater than 25 years. On March 10, 2014, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.[10][14]

Official reactions

Domestic

 Israel:

  • Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, condemned the attack and referred to it as a "terrorist attack".[15]

 Palestine: Hamas praised the attack, without claiming direct responsibility for it, calling it the "natural response to the occupation crimes and ongoing massacres against civilians in the Gaza Strip",[16] and said that the organisation "blesses" the attack.[17] Khaled Mashal, leader of Hamas, categorically rejected any connection of the bombing to his group.[18]

Supranational bodies
International
  •  Russia: The Russian foreign ministry termed the bombing a "criminal terrorist act".[20]
  •  France: The French Foreign Minister similarly condemned the bombing, adding that it took place during efforts to secure a ceasefire.[21]
  •  Romania: The Romanian Foreign Minister condemned the bombing, adding his solidarity with Israel.[22]
  •  United Kingdom: Britain's Foreign Secretary said following the attack that "we are clear that terrorists must not be allowed to set the agenda."[20]
  •  United States: The White House called the bombing a terrorist attack against innocent Israeli civilians, and deemed it "outrageous".[6][17][20]

Aftermath

On October 22, 2013, Shin Bet announced that Mohammed Assi, an Islamic Jihad member, died in a firefight in Bilin with forces that had come to arrest him on suspicion of his involvement in the bombing.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Israeli Arab man arrested over Tel Aviv bus bombing". London: The Telegraph. November 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "Egypt FM: Israel, Hamas cease-fire to go into effect at 9pm". Jerusalem Post. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Terrorist blows up bus in central Tel Aviv; 10 injured". Jerusalem Post. November 21, 2012. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Terror attack: Blast on Tel Aviv bus; 28 hurt". Ynet News. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "הפיצוץ בת"א: "חשבנו שזו נפילה בלי אזעקה" - חדשות". Ynet.co.il. November 21, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Heller, Jeffrey (November 21, 2012). "Tel Aviv bus hit by bomb; Hamas celebrates". Reuters.
  7. ^ Kalman, Matthew (November 21, 2012). "Israelis and Palestinians agree ceasefire despite Tel Aviv bus bomb leaving 20 people injured". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Kais, Roi (November 21, 2012). "Gaza: Celebrations over TA bombing". Ynetnews. Ynet. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  9. ^ "Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza cease-fire". NBC News.
  10. ^ a b "Tel Aviv bus bomber sentenced to 25 years". Haaretz.
  11. ^ a b 'After bombing bus, terrorist went to work'
  12. ^ State files indictment against TA bus bomb suspect
  13. ^ Tel Aviv bus bomber convicted in plea bargain
  14. ^ Tel Aviv bus bomber sentenced to 25 years
  15. ^ "Tel Aviv Bus Bombing 'Act Of Lone Operator'". Uk.news.yahoo.com. November 21, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  16. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (November 21, 2012). "Tel Aviv bus bombing raises fears in Israel that Gaza conflict will spread". The Guardian. London.
  17. ^ a b "Israel-Gaza crisis: 'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv". BBC. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  18. ^ "Hamas leader tells Amanpour his group wasn't behind bombing". blogs.cnn.com. CNN. November 21, 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "UN chief Ban Ki-moon 'shocked' by Tel Aviv attack". Ynetnews. Ynet. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  20. ^ a b c "White House: Tel Aviv bus bombing is 'outrageous'". Jerusalem Post. November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  21. ^ "US, France condemn terror attack in Tel Aviv". Ynetnews. Ynet. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  22. ^ "Ministerul Afacerilor Externe condamnă atentatul de la Tel Aviv (Romanian)". MAE. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  23. ^ "Israeli forces kill Palestinian in West Bank".

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