Gaza Terrorists Use Suicide Bombs Against Israeli Soldiers

Latest Developments

An Israeli military spokesman revealed on December 15 that Palestinian terrorists have deployed suicide bombers to attack Israeli troops in Gaza. Researchers at FDD’s Long War Journal have documented statements by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance Committees declaring their use of the deadly tactic. Although suicide bombings were prevalent during the Second Intifada (2000-2005), there have been few successful suicide attacks in the intervening years. Suicide bombers are highly lethal, low tech, and low-cost weapons that present a new and deadly threat to soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza.

Expert Analysis

“The appearance of suicide bombers has added a new horror to the battlefield in Gaza. The IDF will be on high alert for these kinds of deadly attacks. Palestinian terrorists have deployed women and children to carry out suicide attacks in the past and will likely do this again. Sadly, this will add another layer of fear and suspicion as the IDF interacts with civilians in Gaza.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“It should not come as a surprise that Palestinian terrorist groups are turning to the age-old tactic of suicide bombing. With the military capabilities of these groups slowly being destroyed, it’s highly probable that more suicide bombers will be deployed against Israeli forces.” — Joe Truzman, Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Hundreds of Israelis Killed by Suicide Bombs During Second Intifada

Palestinian terror groups have used suicide bombers as a method of terrorizing Israelis since the early 1990s, but the terror tactic gained prominence in the Second Intifada, when suicide bombings claimed the lives of 525 Israelis — more than half of the total 1,085 killed by Palestinian terrorists between 2000 and 2005. Terrorists targeted buses, hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants, and the vast majority of Israelis killed were civilians. By 2005, the Palestinians had elected new leadership, and Israel increased security measures, including restricting the movement of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza into Israel. These steps contributed to a significant drop in the number of suicide bombers in Israel.

Related Analysis

“Israel Faces Pressure to Shift to ‘Low Intensity’ Conflict in Gaza,” by Seth J. Frantzman

 “IDF Dismantles Hamas Terror Infrastructure, Uncovers Giant Tunnel,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Reminds World How to Quickly End the Gaza War,” FDD Flash Brief