IDF outpost bombing attack (December 2004)

Attack on the border checkpoint in Rafah

2004 IDF outpost bombing attack
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign
The attack site marked with a red dot.
Location	IDF outpost near the Philadelphi Route, Southern District, Israel
Date	12 December 2004
Attack type	Bombing attack, Shooting attack
Deaths	5 IDF soldiers (+ 2 attackers)
Injured	6 IDF soldiers
Perpetrators	Hamas and Fatah claimed joint responsibility

The 2004 IDF outpost bombing attack was an integrated attack carried out on 12 December 2004 by a Palestinian militant squad of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam military wing of Hamas and the Fatah Hawks (a military wing of Fatah) at an Israel Defense Forces outpost located on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Five Bedouin IDF soldiers from the Desert Patrol Battalion were killed in the attack and six others were injured, and the outpost was destroyed. Two Palestinian militants were also killed during the attack.

Preparations for the attack

Long before the attack occurred, Palestinian militants drilled an 800 m (2,600 ft) long tunnel which began from a hidden location within Palestinian homes located near the security fence between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. From there the tunnel went under the border fence and reached a small Israeli military outpost located between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The militants planted 1.5 metric tons of explosives directly below the outpost.

The attack

On Sunday, 12 December 2004, at about 17:45 pm, the militants detonated two powerful explosions in two different locations, within a few minutes of each other. These explosions caused extensive damage and injured 11 soldiers.

Immediately after the explosions, two Palestinian militants stormed the outpost and began opening fire at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the outpost. The attackers managed to kill two IDF soldiers before they were killed themselves.

Rescue Forces were summoned to the site assisted by helicopters, whom attempted to rescue the wounded. At this point a third explosion occurred within the outpost, which was an apparent attempt to get casualties among the rescue forces although it didn't cause any casualties or injuries.

Due to the continuous heavy barrage of mortar fire, the IDF rescue forces were only able to rescue the injured after a long while.

Five Bedouin IDF soldiers from the Desert Patrol Battalion were killed in the attack and six others were injured. Total destruction was caused to the outpost in the attack.

Victims

Sergeant Adham Shehadeh, 20, from Tur'an
Sergeant Sa'id Jahaja, 19, from Ar'arat an-Naqab
Sergeant Aref Azbargah, 20, from Kuseife
Sergeant Tareq al-Ziadna, 20, from Rahat
Sergeant Hussein Abu Leil, 23, from Ein Mahil

The perpetrators

Hamas and Fatah claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

Israel's reaction

Following the attack, the IAF (Israel Air Force) sent two Apache attack helicopters fired "at least six" missiles into Gaza city. The IAF targeted at least two buildings used by terrorists to manufacture weapons.

References

^ "Five Israelis die in Gaza attack". BBC News. 13 December 2014.
Sergeant Adham Shehadeh (in Hebrew)
^ "NRG - " "". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
Sergeant Sa'id Ghga (in Hebrew)
Sergeant Aref Azbergh (in Hebrew)
Sergeant Tareq al-Ziad (in Hebrew)
"NRG - : -". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
"Attack kills 5 Israeli soldiers at Gaza checkpoint". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.

External links

Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza checkpoint bombing – published on 12 December 2004 on USA Today

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Within Israel	Azor attack (February 14, 2001) Netanya bombing (March 4, 2001) 1st HaSharon Mall entrance suicide bombing (May 18, 2001) Dolphinarium discotheque massacre (June 1, 2001) Binyamina train station suicide bombing (July 16, 2001) Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing (August 9, 2001) Nahariya train station suicide bombing (September 9, 2001) Camp 80 junction bus 823 attack (November 29, 2001) Ben Yehuda Street Bombings (December 1, 2001) Haifa bus 16 suicide bombing (December 2, 2001) Hadera attack (January 18, 2002) Tel Aviv outdoor mall bombing (January 25, 2002) Jaffa Street bombing (January 27, 2002) Karnei Shomron Mall suicide bombing (February 16, 2002) Yeshivat Beit Yisrael bombing (March 2, 2002) Seafood Market attack (March 5, 2002) Atzmona attack (March 7, 2002) Café Moment bombing (March 9, 2002) Matzuva attack (March 12, 2002) Egged bus 823 bombing (March 20, 2002) King George Street bombing (March 21, 2002) Passover massacre (March 27, 2002) Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing (March 29, 2002) Matza restaurant suicide bombing (March 31, 2002) Yagur Junction bombing (April 10, 2002) Mahane Yehuda Market bombing (April 12, 2002) Rishon LeZion bombing (May 7, 2002) Netanya Market bombing (May 19, 2002) Pi Glilot bombing attempt (May 23, 2002) Megiddo Junction bus bombing (June 5, 2002) Herzliya shawarma restaurant bombing (June 11, 2002) Patt Junction bus bombing (June 18, 2002) Neve Shaanan Street bombing (July 17, 2002) Hebrew University bombing (July 31, 2002) Meron Junction Bus 361 attack (August 4, 2002) Allenby Street bus bombing (September 19, 2002) Karkur junction suicide bombing (October 21, 2002) Metzer attack (November 2, 2002) Kiryat Menachem bus bombing (November 21, 2002) Beit She'an attack (November 28, 2002) Tel Aviv central bus station massacre (January 5, 2003) Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing (March 5, 2003) Mike's Place suicide bombing (April 30, 2003) Jerusalem bombings (May 18, 2003) Afula mall bombing (May 19, 2003) Davidka Square bus bombing (June 11, 2003) Murder of Oleg Shaichat (July 28, 2003) Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing (August 19, 2003) Tzrifin bus stop attack (September 9, 2003) Café Hillel bombing (September 9, 2003) Maxim restaurant suicide bombing (October 4, 2003) Geha Interchange bus stop bombing (December 25, 2003) 2004 Erez Crossing bombing (January 14, 2004) Gaza Street bus bombing (January 29, 2004) Liberty Bell Park bus bombing (February 22, 2004) Ashdod Port bombings (March 14, 2004) Beersheba bus bombings (August 31, 2004) Carmel Market bombing (November 1, 2004) Karni border crossing attack (January 13, 2005) Stage Club bombing (February 25, 2005) 2nd HaSharon Mall entrance suicide bombing (July 12, 2005) Hadera Market bombing (October 26, 2005) 3rd HaSharon Mall entrance suicide bombing (December 5, 2005) 2nd Rosh Ha'ir restaurant bombing (April 17, 2006) Gaza cross-border raid (June 25, 2006) Eilat bakery bombing (January 29, 2007) Dimona suicide bombing (February 4, 2008) Jerusalem yeshiva attack (March 6, 2008) Jerusalem bulldozer attack (July 2, 2008) Jerusalem BMW attack (September 22, 2008)
West Bank	Ramallah lynching (October 12, 2000) Murder of Ofir Rahum (January 17, 2001) Assassination of the Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi (October 17, 2001) Murder of Shalhevet Pass (March 26, 2001) Palestinian fatal stoning attack (June 5, 2001) Immanuel bus attack (December 12, 2001) Ein 'Arik checkpoint attack (19 February 2002) Wadi al-Haramiya sniper attack (March 3, 2002) French Hill Junction suicide bombing (June 19, 2002) Itamar attack (June 20, 2002) Immanuel bus attack (July 16, 2002) Sonol gas station bombing (October 27, 2002) Hebron ambush (November 15, 2002) Yeshivat Otniel shooting (December 27, 2002) Kidnapping and murder of Sasson Nuriel (September 21, 2005) Kedumim bombing (March 30, 2006) Murder of Eliyahu Asheri (June 25, 2006) Nahal Telem shooting (December 28, 2007) Bat Ayin axe attack (April 2, 2009) Killing of Rabbi Meir Hai (December 24, 2009)
Gaza Strip	Kissufim tank ambush ‎(September 5, 2002) Murder of the Hatuel family (May 2, 2004) IDF outpost bombing attack (December 12, 2004)
Worldwide	Sinai bombings (October 7, 2004)
Attacks launched from Lebanon Attacks launched from the West Bank Attacks launched from the Gaza Strip 1990s 2010s

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