On 14 February 2001, a vehicular attack took place near Azor, Israel. A Palestinian man from Gaza drove a bus into a group of Israeli soldiers who stood at a bus stop at Azor junction, killing 8 people—7 soldiers and one civilian, and injuring 26 further.[1] The Islamist militant organization Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.[2]
| 2001 Azor attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of The Second Intifada | |
 The attack aftermath | |
  The attack site | |
| Location | Azor junction, israel |
| Coordinates | 32°01′16″N 34°48′21″E / 32.02111°N 34.80583°E |
| Date | 14 February 2001 |
Attack type | Vehicle-ramming attack |
| Deaths | 8 (7 soldiers, 1 civilian) |
| Injured | 26 |
| Perpetrator | Hamas claimed responsibility |
| Assailant | Khalil Abu-Alba |
Attack edit
The attacker, 35-year old Khalil Abu Alba from Gaza, was a bus driver who used to drive Arab workers in the morning from his city toward Tel Aviv. He had been an Egged bus driver for five years before the attack.[3]
On 14 February, after dropping off as usual the Arab workers at Lod and Ramle, he drove toward Holon. When arriving Azor junction, he noticed a group of Israeli soldiers waiting at a bus stop. The attacker accelerated the bus, and sharply swerved to the right, hitting dozens of people. He killed 8 people, 7 soldiers and one civilian, and injured 26.[4]
After the attack he accelerated again the bus and drove quickly southwards, in direction of Gaza. The bus was stopped only after crashing into a truck, 30km away, after police officers had shot at the bus' wheels.[2]
References edit
- ^ "Bereaved families: State dancing in our blood". Ynetnews. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ a b "ערפאת: "זו היתה תאונת דרכים"". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "8 מאסרי עולם ו-21 שנות מאסר למבצע פיגוע באזור". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "משפחתו של הנהג הדורס: הוא היה תחת השפעת תרופות - וואלה! חדשות". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 3 March 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.