Hadera Market bombing

Overview

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 26, 2005, a suicide bombing occurred at the entrance to the main fruit and vegetable open-air market in Hadera, a coastal town in Israel. The attack took place as the market was crowded with shoppers preparing for an upcoming Jewish holiday. A Palestinian suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt hidden beneath his clothing approached the market and detonated the device.

The Attack

The blast killed seven civilians and injured 55 others, five of whom were reported in severe condition. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Islamist militant organization, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The group identified the bomber as a 20-year-old Palestinian named Hassan Abu Zeid, who it said originated from the West Bank town of Qabatiya.

Claimed Motive and Aftermath

Palestinian Islamic Jihad stated that the attack was carried out in revenge for the Israeli targeted killing of Islamic Jihad commander Luay Saadi. Abu al-Muaman, described as one of the organization's leaders, told the press that the attack was "merely a preliminary response by the Palestinian rebellious groups, and harder retaliation is on its way." In response, Israel carried out an airstrike killing a top Islamic Jihad commander in northern Gaza along with another militant.

Official Reactions

An Israeli government spokesman called on the Palestinian Authority to increase efforts to "disarm and dismantle the terror organization." Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, stating that it "harms Palestinian interests and could widen the cycle of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodshed." White House spokesman Scott McClellan also condemned the bombing and called on Palestinian leadership to crack down on militants responsible for such attacks.

Long-Term Impact

According to a later report, one woman injured in the Hadera attack died four years afterward, in 2009, as a result of injuries sustained in the bombing.