Non-fatal injuries 16 Attack type Suicide attack | Start date March 14, 2004 | |
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Location Port of Ashdod in Ashdod, Israel Deaths 10 (+ 2 suicide bombers) Perpetrators Two Palestinian assailants. Both Hamas and Fatah claimed responsibility Similar Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing, Gaza Street bus bombing, Maxim restaurant suicide b, Ben Yehuda Street bo, Mercaz HaRav massacre | ||
The 2004 Ashdod Port bombings were two suicide bombings carried out nearly simultaneously on March 14, 2004 at the Port of Ashdod in Ashdod, Israel. 10 people were killed in the attack, and 16 were injured. Hamas and Fatah claimed joint responsibility for the attack.
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The attack
On Sunday, March 14, 2004, two Palestinian suicide bombers who wore explosive belts hidden underneath their clothes approached the Port of Ashdod. Despite the vast security arrangements at the compound, the two suicide bombers managed to infiltrate into the compound.
At 16:20 pm the suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices - one exploded himself in an office building inside the compound, and the other exploded after a few moments at the entrance to the compound. The force of the blast killed ten civilians, most of them were port workers, and injured 16 others.
The perpetrators
Hamas and Fatah claimed joint responsibility for the attack and stated that the attack was carried out by two 18-year-olds from the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. The two assailants managed to infiltrate Israel from Gaza by hiding in a container that went through the Karni Crossing. A Hamas leader in Gaza stated that the original plan was that the suicide bombers would blow up fuel tanks at the port; Israel said the bombers intended to carry out a "mega attack" with hundreds of casualties, but instead blew themselves up hundreds of meters from the tanks.
In response, Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin was killed along with his bodyguards in a strike by Israeli helicopters in Gaza City. Later on it was revealed that the attack was financed and directed by Nizar Rayan.