1997 Mahane Yehuda Market bombings

Suicide bombing by Hamas in Jerusalem

1997 Mahane Yehuda Market bombings
The attack site
Location	Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
Date	30 July 1997 13:15 pm (GMT+2)
Attack type	suicide bombings
Deaths	16 civilians (+ 2 suicide bombers)
Injured	178
Perpetrators	Hamas claimed responsibility

Two consecutive suicide bombings were carried out by Hamas militants on 30 July 1997 at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, the city's main open-air fruit and vegetable market. Sixteen people were killed in the attack and 178 were injured.

The attack

On Wednesday, 30 July 1997 at 1:15 pm, two Palestinian suicide bombers who carried bags laden with explosives and nails detonated their explosive devices 45 meters (150 feet) apart almost simultaneously in a central alley in the popular outdoor market, killing 16 civilians, among them an Arab resident of Eilabun, and injuring 178 people, many of them teenagers and tourists.

Thirteen Israelis were killed immediately and three others died later from their injuries. The Mahane Yehuda attack was followed by a triple suicide bombing on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall in downtown Jerusalem on 4 September, which killed five Israelis and wounded over 190.

Aftermath

In retaliation for these and other attacks, a decision was reached to target Hamas leaders. According to an Israeli press release, Mossad agents tried to poison chairman Khaled Mashal, who resided at the time in Jordan. The assassination attempt failed and the Mossad agents were captured by the Jordanian authorities. They were later released in exchange for the release of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and "spiritual leader" of Hamas who was serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison.

References

Trounson, Rebecca; Miller (31 July 1997). "Suicide Blasts at Busy Market Kill 15 in Jerusalem". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021. Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat publicly condemned the bombings as the actions of terrorists...
"ערוץ 2: פיגוע התאבדות כפול בשוק מחנה יהודה, 30.07.1997 - YouTube". Retrieved 17 December 2014 – via YouTube.
"Mahane Yehuda attack toll up to 16". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
"Ciechanover Report on Mish'al Affair". Retrieved 17 December 2014.
Hartley, Lea, Cossali and Rowe, 2004, p. 231.
Schanzer, 2008, p. 45.

v t e Prominent terrorist attacks against Israelis in the history of the Arab–Israeli conflict – the 1990s
1990	Cairo bus attack (February 4) Assassination of Meir Kahane (November 5) Ein Netafim ambush (November 26)
1992	Night of the Pitchforks (February 14) Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing (March 17) Murder of Helena Rapp (May 24) Abduction and killing of Nissim Toledano (December 13)
1993	Mehola Junction bombing (April 16) Abduction and killing of Yaron Chen (August 5)
1994	Afula bus bombing (April 6) Hadera bus station bombing (April 13) London embassy bombing (July 26) Abduction and killing of Nachshon Wachsman (October 14) Dizengoff Street bus bombing (October 19) Netzarim Junction bicycle bombing (November 11) Afula axe attack (November 30)
1995	Beit Lid bombing (January 22) Kfar Darom bus attack (April 9) Ramat Gan bus bombing (July 24) Jerusalem bus 26 bombing (August 21)
1996	First Jaffa Road bus bombing (February 25) ‡ Second Jaffa Road bus bombing (March 3) Dizengoff Center bombing (March 4) Murder of Yaron and Efrat Ungar (June 9)
1997	Island of Peace massacre (March 13) Café Apropo bombing (March 21) Mahane Yehuda bombings (July 30) Ben Yehuda Street bombing (September 4)
Attacks launched from the West Bank Attacks launched from the Gaza Strip Attacks launched from Lebanon Attacks launched from Jordan Attacks launched from Egypt ‡ indicates the terrorist attack which caused the greatest amount of Israeli casualties during the 1990s Full list of Palestinian suicide attacks Full list of Lebanese projectile attacks 1980s 2000s

v t e Prominent Palestinian militancy attacks in the 1990s
Within Israel	Night of the Pitchforks (February 14, 1992) Murder of Helena Rapp (May 24, 1992) Kidnapping and murder of Nissim Toledano (December 13, 1992) Afula bus suicide bombing (April 6, 1994) Hadera central station suicide bombing (April 13, 1994) Kidnapping and murder of Nachshon Wachsman (October 14, 1994) Dizengoff Street bus bombing (October 19, 1994) Afula axe attack (November 30, 1994) Beit Lid massacre (January 22, 1995) Kfar Darom bus attack (April 9, 1995) Ramat Gan bus bombing (July 24, 1995) Jerusalem bus 26 bombing (August 21, 1995) First Jerusalem bus 18 suicide bombing (February 25, 1996) Second Jerusalem bus 18 suicide bombing (March 3, 1996) Dizengoff Center suicide bombing (March 4, 1996) Murder of Yaron and Efrat Ungar (June 9, 1996) Café Apropo bombing (March 21, 1997) Mahane Yehuda Market bombings (July 30, 1997) Ben Yehuda Street Bombing (September 4, 1997)
West Bank	Mehola Junction bombing (April 16, 1993) Kidnapping and murder of Yaron Chen (August 5, 1993)
Gaza Strip	Netzarim Junction bicycle bombing (November 11, 1994)
Attacks launched from Lebanon Attacks launched from the West Bank Attacks launched from the Gaza strip 1980s 2000s

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