| 2001 Azor attack | |
| Partof: | The Second Intifada |
| Location: | Azor junction, israel |
| Coordinates: | 32.0211°N 34.8058°W |
| Type: | Vehicle-ramming attack |
| Fatalities: | 8 (7 soldiers, 1 civilian) |
| Injuries: | 26 |
| Perp: | Hamas claimed responsibility |
| Assailant: | Khalil Abu-Alba |
On 14 February 2001, a vehicular attack took place near Azor, Israel. A Palestinian man from Gaza drove a bus into a group of Israeli soldiers who stood at a bus stop at Azor junction, killing eight people—seven soldiers and one civilian, and injuring 26 further.[1] The Islamist militant organization Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.[2]
The attacker, 35-year old Khalil Abu Alba from Gaza, was a bus driver who used to drive Arab workers in the morning from his city toward Tel Aviv. He had been an Egged bus driver for five years before the attack.[3]
On 14 February, after dropping off as usual the Arab workers at Lod and Ramle, he drove toward Holon. When arriving Azor junction, he noticed a group of Israeli soldiers waiting at a bus stop. The attacker accelerated the bus, and sharply swerved to the right, hitting dozens of people. He killed eight people, seven soldiers and one civilian, and injured 26.[4]
After the attack he drove the bus quickly southwards towards Gaza. The bus was stopped only after crashing into a truck 30km away after police officers had shot at its wheels.