| Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of theSecond Intifada militancy campaign | |
 The attack site, 2009 | |
  The attack site Show map of Jerusalem Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing (Jerusalem District) Show map of Jerusalem District Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing (Israel) Show map of Israel | |
| Location | 31°45′42″N35°10′30″E / 31.76167°N 35.17500°E /31.76167; 35.17500 Shufersal supermarket at theKiryat HaYovel neighbourhood inJerusalem |
| Date | 29 March 2002; 23 years ago (2002-03-29) |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Weapon | Suicide vest |
| Deaths | 2 Israeli civilians (+1 bomber) |
| Injured | 28 civilians |
| Perpetrators | Ayat al-Akhras (Hamas claimed responsibility) |
Asuicide bombing was carried out on 29 March 2002 by 17-year-oldAyat al-Akhras, who blew herself up at the entrance of the mainsupermarket in theJerusalem neighborhood ofKiryat HaYovel, killing three people including a 17 year old girl and injuring 28, two seriously.[1]Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 29 March 2002, during the afternoon,Ayat al-Akhras, an 17-year-old Palestinian girl, approached the Shufersal supermarket of Kiryat Yovel. The supermarket at the time was full of customers shopping for the weekend.
Haim Smadar, the 55-year-old security guard who guarded the entrance to the supermarket and spokeArabic, became suspicious after two Arab women who usually sold vegetables outside the shop entrance had been warned by Akhras to leave. Akhras detonated the explosives at the entrance to the store while struggling with Smadar, killing him and Rachel Levy, a 17-year-old Israeli girl. In addition, about 30 people were injured in the attack. Smadar managed to forcefully keep her away from the crowd, thus preventing a larger loss of life had the attack taken place inside the store.[2]
After the attack, it was discovered that the suicide bomber was also carrying an unexploded mortar bomb.[3]
When news of the bombing reachedDheisheh, some of the residents celebrated, handing out candies and firing guns in the air.[4]
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the suicide bomber as 17-year-oldAyat al-Akhras from theDeheishe Refugee Camp nearBethlehem.[5]
US presidentGeorge W. Bush condemned the attack, stating: "When an 18-year-old Palestinian girl is induced to blow herself up, and in the process kills a 17-year-old Israeli girl, the future itself is dying, the future of the Palestinian people and the future of the Israeli people." He also called onYasser Arafat to convey a clear message to terrorists that blowing themselves up did not help the cause of the Palestinians.[6]
After the bombing, Ayat became an icon in Bethlehem and was hailed as a martyr and role model atAl Quds University.[7] She was praised by American university professorJulio Pino.[8]
Then Saudi Ambassador to the UK, DrGhazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi, a leading politician in Saudi Arabia, wrote a poem in praise of al-Akhras in 2002.[9][10]
