Karni border crossing attack

The Karni border crossing attack was a Palestinian suicide bombing on January 13, 2005, at the pedestrian/cargo terminal Karni Crossing located on the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier. Six Israeli civilians were killed in the attack and five Israelis were injured in the attack.

Karni border crossing attack
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign
The attack site
Native name	הפיגוע במחסום קרני (2005)
Location	Karni Crossing, Southern District, Israel
Coordinates	31°28′31″N 34°28′41″E
Date	January 13, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-01-13) c. 22:45 pm (UTC+2)
Attack type	Mass shooting
Weapons	90 kilograms (200 lb) explosive device, hand grenades, AK-47 rifles[1]
Deaths	6 Israeli civilians (+3 attackers)
Injured	5 Israeli civilians
Perpetrators	Hamas, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed joint responsibility

Hamas, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

Attack

On Thursday, January 13, 2005, at around 22:45 pm, a squad of three Palestinians militants armed with AK-47s and hand grenades, parked a truck loaded with a 200-pound explosive device,^[1] on the Palestinian side of the fence near an iron door that separates the Israeli and Palestinian sides at the Karni Crossing checkpoint. At 22:45 pm the squad detonated the explosives which created a hole through the iron door. Immediately afterwards the militants penetrated into the Israeli side of the Karni crossing through the hole in the iron door. The militant squad threw grenades and fired their assault weapons at the Israeli civilians on the site.^[2]

During the attack the Palestinian militant squad managed to kill 6 Israeli civilians (truck drivers and workers of the Port Authority) and in addition managed to injure five Israeli civilians.^[3]

The following exchange of fire between the Israeli soldiers stationed at the site and the Palestinian militants resulted in the killing of all three attackers.^[3]

Perpetrators

Three Palestinian militant groups claimed joint responsibility for the attack, including Hamas, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees.^[4]

After the attack, Abu Abir, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, stated to the press, "the attack is a continuation of the resistance."^[4]

Official reactions

Israeli officials stated, "The prime minister has ordered suspension of all contacts with Palestinian Authority representatives and the closure of all Gaza terminals until real steps are taken against terrorist acts."^[5]

Newly elected President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack.^[6]

See also

• Erez Crossing bombing (January 14, 2004)

External links

• Terror attack at Karni Crossing - published at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Suicide attack at Gaza Crossing - BBC News
• Inquiry: Karni attackers had false permits - Haaretz, January 16, 2005
• Large Bomb Kills Six Israelis at Gaza Checkpoint, The Washington Post, January 14, 2005
• Explosion kills six Israelis - The Age, January 15, 2005

References

1. "After attack, Israel cuts Abbas contact". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
2. "Terrorist attack at Karni crossing thwarted by IDF forces". GxMSDev. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
3. "Deadly attack rocks Gaza crossing". BBC News. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
4. "Five dead, 10 wounded in Gaza attack". The New Zealand Herald. Reuters. January 14, 2005. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
5. "Sharon suspends contacts with Palestinian Authority". CNN. January 14, 2005. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
6. Andrew Metz (January 15, 2005). "Sharon drops peace dialogue / He won't talk with Palestinian leader until those behind attack on Israelis are caught". Newsday. Retrieved December 13, 2014 – via SFGate.