Wafa al Bass (Wafa al-Biss, b. 1984) is a Palestinian Arab resident of northern Gaza and student at Al Quds University who was permitted to enter Israel for the purpose of being treated at an Israeli hospital in 2005.[1][2] She wore a suicide bomb vest which she attempted to explode as she crossed into Israel via the Erez Crossing.[3][4]

Al Bass had been given permission by Israel to enter Israel to receive hospital treatment for severe burns at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva.[5] On June 20, 2005, during one of her return visits, guards at the crossing became suspicious given that she was walking awkwardly, and discovered that under her traditional black robes she had strapped a 22-pound bomb to her legs.[5][6][7][8][9] She unsuccessfully attempted to then detonate the bomb, and when questioned, she said that she hoped to explode the bomb after arriving at the hospital where she had been treated.[10] She said "I am a member of Al Aqsa Brigades .. I believe in death."[11]

She was sentenced for 12 years, but was released early in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.[5]

Upon release from prison she immediately attained further notoriety by urging Gazans to "take another Shalit" every year until all convicted Arab terrorists held in Israeli prisons were freed.[2][12] As schoolchildren gathered at her home in northern Gaza to welcome her home, she told them, "I hope you will walk the same path we took and God willing, we will see some of you as martyrs."[13][14]

Video

References

  1. ↑ Female Suicide Bombers
  2. 1 2 Goldberg, Jeffrey (October 18, 2011). "In One Paragraph, the Horror of the Middle East". The Atlantic.
  3. ↑ "A suicide bombing attack planned to be carried out in Israel". Terrorism-info.org.il. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  4. ↑ Rosemarie Skaine (2006). Female suicide bombers. McFarland. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7864-2615-7. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Israel Denial; Anti-Zionism, Anti-Semitism, & The Faculty Campaign Against the Jewish State
  6. ↑ "Israel Crackdown Ahead Of Summit - CBS News". CBS News. June 21, 2005.
  7. ↑ "Israel Offers Two More Towns". CBS News. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  8. ↑ "Women Weapons". The New York Sun. June 29, 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  9. ↑ "Attack by female suicide bomber thwarted at Erez crossing". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 20 June 2005.
  10. ↑ al-Biss, Wafa (9 June 2012). "Failed Suicide Bomber Hopes for Another Chance to Kill" (YouTube video). Happening Now (Interview). Interviewed by Leland Vittert. Gaza Strip: Fox News. Retrieved 19 January 2021. (minute 1:15) "... ready to sacrifice her own life to kill Israelis at a local hospital. She knew the hospital well, as doctors there once treated her."{{cite interview}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ↑ Terrorism in Perspective
  12. ↑ "Israeli Soldier Swapped for Hundreds of Palestinians". The New York Times. October 18, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Would-be bomber tells Gaza kids to be like her". Ynetnews. 1995-06-20. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  14. ↑ "Freed Wafa al-Biss tells Gaza children to follow her example". Ahram Online. 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
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