2001 Azor attack

2001 Azor attack
Part of The Second Intifada
The attack aftermath
class=notpageimage| The attack site
Location	Azor junction, Israel
Coordinates	32°01′16″N34°48′21″E / 32.02111°N 34.80583°E / 32.02111; 34.80583
Date	14 February 2001 (2001-02-14)
Attack type	Vehicle-ramming attack
Deaths	8 (7 soldiers, 1 civilian)
Injured	26
Perpetrator	Hamas claimed responsibility
Assailant	Khalil Abu-Alba

Memorial at the place of the attack

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 eight people—seven soldiers and one civilian, and injuring 26 further. ^[1] The Islamist militant organization Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. ^[2]

Attack

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 eight people, seven soldiers and one civilian, and injured 26. ^[4]

After the attack he drove the bus quickly southwards towards Gaza. The bus was stopped only after crashing into a truck 30km away after police officers had shot at its wheels. ^[2]

References

1. "Bereaved families: State dancing in our blood". Ynetnews. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
2. "ערפאת: "זו היתה תאונת דרכים"". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
3. "8 מאסרי עולם ו-21 שנות מאסר למבצע פיגוע באזור". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
4. "משפחתו של הנהג הדורס: הוא היה תחת השפעת תרופות - וואלה! חדשות". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 3 March 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

External links

• The Jewish Agency for Israel website