Davidka Square bus bombing
{{Short description|2003 suicide bombing in Jerusalem}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}{{Infobox terrorist attack
| title = Jerusalem bus 14A attack
| partof = the Second Intifada militancy campaign
| image = Memorial plaque to terrorist attack victims in Davidka square jerusalem.jpg
| map = {{Location map|Israel jerusalem|caption=Location of Jerusalem}}
| caption = Memorial for the attack victims
| location = Jerusalem
| target =
| date = {{start date and age|2003|06|11}}
| time = {{circa}} 17:30 pm
| time-begin =
| time-end =
| timezone =
| type = Suicide bombing
| fatalities = 17 civilians (+1 bomber)
| injuries = Approximately 100 civilians
| perps =
| perpetrator = Hamas claimed responsibility
}}
A Palestinian suicide bombing took place on June 11, 2003, on Egged bus line 14a at Davidka Square in the center of Jerusalem. 17 people were killed in the attack and over 100 people were injured.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack
At about 17:30 pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, a Palestinian suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew, boarded bus No. 14a at the Mahane Yehuda market bus stop on Jaffa Road. At Davidka Square, the bomber detonated his explosive device, which contained a large quantity of metal shrapnel designed to cause maximum casualties.{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2982068.stm |title=BBC NEWS | Middle East | Suicide blast hits Jerusalem bus |work=BBC News |date=11 June 2003 |publisher=BBC |location=London |access-date=18 October 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jerusalem-bus-attack-death-toll-rises-to-17-1.91198 |title=Jerusalem bus attack death toll rises to 17 - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News |work=haaretz.com |year=2011 |access-date=18 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/6/Suicide+bombing+of+Egged+bus+No+14A+in+Jerusalem+-.htm |title=Suicide bombing of Egged bus No 14A in Jerusalem - |work=mfa.gov.il |year=2011 |access-date=18 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113085001/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/6/Suicide+bombing+of+Egged+bus+No+14A+in+Jerusalem+-.htm |archive-date=13 November 2011 }}
17 people were killed in the attack and more than 100 people were injured, including dozens of passersby.
The perpetrator
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the attack was an act of vengeance for the Israeli assassination attempt on the senior Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi on Tuesday, June 10, 2003. Rantisi survived the assassination attempt during which Israeli helicopters fired missiles at his car.
Lawsuits were filed against Arab Bank, NatWest and Crédit Lyonnais for channeling money to Hamas.{{cite news|last1=Preston|first1=Julia|title=Hurt by Hamas, Americans Sue Banks in U.S.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/nyregion/15hamas.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=16 August 2015|work=The New York Times|date=15 April 2006}}
Israeli retaliation
Shortly after the bus attack, Israeli helicopters fired rockets at a moving car in Gaza that was carrying two senior Hamas members, among others. All of the car's six passengers were killed, including Hamas leader Tito Masoud.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wate.com/story/1316921/16-killed-on-israeli-bus-7-die-in-gaza?redirected=true |title=16 Killed on Israeli Bus; 7 Die in Gaza |access-date=2011-08-27 |archive-date=2012-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322052218/http://www.wate.com/story/1316921/16-killed-on-israeli-bus-7-die-in-gaza?redirected=true |url-status=dead }}[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FB9FB29F66BB8DC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources][https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1295821 Israel Hits Gaza after Jerusalem Bombing : NPR]
Official reactions
Involved parties
{{Flagu|Israel}}: A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon stated that the suicide attack indicates that the Palestinians have done nothing to crack down on militants.
{{Flag|Palestinian territories}}:
- Palestinian National Authority - Yasser Arafat condemned the attack and urged Arabs and Israelis alike to stop the violence.
International
- {{Flagu|USA}} – US President George Bush condemned the attack and urged all nations to cut off financial assistance to terrorists and "isolate those who hate so much that they are willing to kill."[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-06-11-us-mideast_x.htm USATODAY.com - Bush condemns Jerusalem bus bombing]
See also
References
{{reflist|35em}}
External links
- [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/346162481.html?dids=346162481:346162481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT Jerusalem Bus Bomb Kills 17 as Strife Rises; Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 9 Palestinians; Bush Plan Is Tested] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202944/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/346162481.html?dids=346162481:346162481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |date=2012-11-07 }} - published on The Washington Poston June 12, 2003
{{Terrorist attacks against Israelis in the 2000s}}
{{Palestinian militancy attacks in the 2000s}}
{{Hamas}}
{{coord|31.7847|N|35.2147|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
Category:Hamas suicide bombings of buses
Category:Terrorist incidents in Jerusalem in the 2000s
Category:Israeli casualties in the Second Intifada
Category:Suicide bombings in 2003
Category:21st-century mass murder in Jerusalem
Category:June 2003 crimes in Asia
Category:Suicide bombings in Jerusalem