Who Are The Suicide Bombers?

Suicide bomber statistics: Age, Education, Marital status

Plus - Women as suicide bombers

Israeli Security Service (Shin Bet) 
Suicide Bomber Statistical Study

The I.S.S.  recently published a summary of all the suicide attacks carried out in Israel  since September 2000. According to the document, there were 160 suicide bombers overall, among them 8 women. Out of the 24,000 separate attacks against Israelis, the percentage of suicide bombings stood at only 0.6%. However, the number of casualties resulting from these attacks amount to half of the total casualties during the conflict. Since September 2000, 514 people were killed in suicide attacks.

Suicide bombers are predominately single men, relatively educated and aged between 17 and 24. It was found that 23 per cent of suicide bombers were university graduates, 24 per cent finished High School and 6 per cent finished elementary school. Below are some additional figures describing their personal characteristics:

* There was one woman in the -17 group, 5 
women in the 17-24 group, 2 women in the 
  25-34 group and none among the older group. 

The ISS report noted that suicide terror has become the most prominent method of the Palestinian terror infrastructure. Initially, it was supported by ideological explanations, but today large sums of money are transferred to maintain the infrastructure. There are many people living in the territories whose paid work is to initiate, plan and implement suicide attacks: for them, the ideological component is relatively weak and sometimes does not 
exist at all.

It was also noted that since the security barrier was constructed, the terrorist organizations have increased trying to exploit “weak” members of the population such as children, women, sick people and those who suffer from social problems or have low-esteem to carry out terror attacks.

 Palestinian Women as Suicide Bombers

Wafa Idriss 
On January 27, 2002, the 28 year-old terrorist walked into a shopping district on Jerusalem's Jaffa Road and detonated a bomb killing herself, one Israeli, and injuring 150 others. 

Dareen Abu Aysheh  
a terrorist blew herself up inside a vehicle with two terrorists at the Maccabim checkpoint on Feb. 27, 2002 in a failed attempt to murder two security personnel. Two policemen were wounded in the attack: Darin was a resident of Beit Vazan in Samaria. Darin arrived at the Maccabim checkpoint driving east to west in a vehicle with two Tanzim terrorists. The two of them were asked to present their identity cards. When Diran was asked for her identification she instead blew herself up. Darin was killed. Two of the men that were in the vehicle were shot at and severely wounded. Two Israeli policemen were lightly wounded. Before carrying out the terrorist attack, Darin was photographed holding a sharp knife. The Tanzim terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iat Alacharas, an 18 year terrorist, murdered two innocent Israeli civilians and injured twenty two civilians in a suicide bombing in a supermarket in Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem killing two Israelis and injuring 28 others. The Tanzim terrorist organization linked with the Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Iat Alacharas carried the explosive device that was prepared in a black female purse. Avrahim Sarachana and his brother Mosa Sarachana lead Iat to the designated place of the attack. The two of them lead Iat in a red van adjacent to the supermarket in the neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem .  The day before she detonated the bomb at the supermarket, Ayat Akhras sat with her fiance and talked about graduating from high school and getting married in the summer. She was engaged to Shali Abu Laban.

Andaliv Takataka
a 21 year old terrorist, on April 12, 2002 exploded a suicide bomb attached to her body in proximity to a bus in the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem  murdering four Israeli civilians and two foreign workers from China and injured 60 additional civilians. The terrorist attack was prepared by Muataz Hymoni, a terrorist from the Popular Front for the Liberation Palestine in Hevron who was arrested in the Defensive Shield Operation. Marwan Zalum, a senior terrorist from Hevron prepared the explosive device and was also killed as a result from an initiated activity by security forces. The explosive device was made of three plastic pipes and a battery and was concealed in a female's purse for disguise. On day of the terrorist attack, Andaliv was transported to Abu Dis and from there traveled in a taxi to Jerusalem and arrived at the Mahane Yehuda market. There she exploded the bomb near an Egged bus. 

Hanadi Tayseer Jaradat
On October 4, 2003, Hanadi Tayseer Jaradat, 29, a terrorist from Jenin, detonated a bomb in a restaurant in Haifa, Israel killing herself, 19 innocent Israelis and injuring 50 others. Hanadi Tayseer Jaradat wrapped her waist with explosives and pushed her way past an elderly security guard at a restaurant. Hanadi Tayseer Jaradat was a single woman whose younger brother Fadi, a 25-year-old, and older cousin, 34-year-old Salah had been killed by Israeli forces in the raid on Jenin in June of 2003. Her family said she did not tell anyone where she was going and they assumed she was on her way to the law office in Jenin where she worked.

Reem Salih al-Rayasha
On the morning of January 14, 2004, terrorist with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a 21 year old mother of two children ages 1 and 4, detonated a bomb at the Erez border check point between Israel and the Gaza Strip killing four Israeli soldiers. She was from Salih al-Rayasha of Gaza City.

Zeinab Abu Salem
Abu Salem, a terrorist, age 18, blew herself up near a hitch-hiking post in Jerusalem killing two Israeli border police and wounding 17 others. The blast tore through the mainly Jewish district of French Hill in Arab East Jerusalem which housed many elderly and children.

Haba Azam Dra'ama, a terrorist with the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization blew herself up at the Amakim mall in Afula on 19.5.2003. The terrorist attack killed 3 civilians and wounded 50 others. Motivation of the terrorist attack: Haba Azam Dra'ama was a Islamic religious student 
from Tovas.

Achlam Tmimi, 20 disguised herself as a tourist in order to kill innocent Israeli civilians. She murdered fifteen Israeli civilians and injured a hundred and seven civilians when she aided a suicide bombing at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem Sept. 8, 2001 Achlam of Jordanian origin, who resided in Ramallah in 1998, was a student and reporter. Besides her participation as a suicide bomber, she also dealt in collecting intelligence for a future terrorist attack. In her investigation, she told that she carried with her a camera and talked with the terrorist in English, who carried a guitar case in order to disguise herself as a tourist. Achlam was also responsible for placing an explosive device which was disguised in a beer can in a supermarket in Jerusalem on June 30, 2001. Achlam was drafted to the Islamic Hamas terrorist organization in June 2001. 

Rim Tzalach Riashi was in dispute with her husband and family and carried out a suicide terrorist attack on behalf of the Hamas terrorist organization. The terrorist attack was executed at a Terminal where workers pass at the Erez industrial area. The terrorist attack killed 3 soldiers and one civilian and injured 10 others. Rim had a personal and close connection with the Islamic Hamas terrorist organization.

Kahira Sa'adi, 26, a terrorist from Al-Ram and Sanaa Shachada, 27 bought flowers in order to disguise themselves as civilians on Mother's Day when a terrorist blew himself up on King George Street in Jerusalem on March 21, 2002 killing three Israeli civilians and wounding tens of others. Kahira confessed to investigators that she brought to Jerusalem the suicide bomber who executed the terrorist attack. Kahira mentioned that Abad Al Karim Avis, one of the senior terrorists of the Islamic Fatah terrorist organization became acquainted with Kahira, and convinced her to exploit her western looks and smuggle a suicide bomber into Jerusalem . She also confessed that after the terrorist attack on King George Street , she agreed to transfer another suicide bomber into Jerusalem with a larger explosive belt.

Norah Anam, 16, a resident of Tul Karem attempted to carry out a terrorist attack by trying to stab an IDF soldier at the Taibeh checkpoint near Tulkarem. Norah Anam left her house during the evening hours of the night, without the knowledge of her children, and crossed the checkpoint in order carry out a terrorist attack and stab an IDF soldier. The forces at the checkpoint opened fire in her direction in order to thwart the terrorist attack which ended in Norah's death. The Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility of sending Norah to carry out the terrorist attack.

Sana Shachada, 27 from the Kalandia refugee camp confessed that together with Kahira Sa'adi she was involved in the smuggling of a suicide bomber. Sana also admitted during questioning that she was a friend and supporter of Neazar Shavish, a senior terrorist of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Jenin. Shavish was arrested by security forces. She confessed she had been contacted in order to help in the smuggling of a terrorist into Jerusalem . She also confessed that at a checkpoint to the entrance of the city she bought flowers, holding them in order to blend better among those crossing, as it was Mother's Day the day of the attack. She stated that before she entered the city with Shavish, Shavish stepped back at a distance of 50 meters from Kahira Saidi and the suicide bomber because she wore an Arab traditional garment and did not want to stir any suspicion.

Daah Jeyosi, a 21 year old student who smuggled a suicide bomber into the city of Netanya checked other possibilities of carrying out a terrorist attack in the area of the boardwalk and the mall, but finally selected the local market. The result was the murder of three Israeli civilians and wounding fifty nine civilians on 5/19/02. Daah confessed  that she was asked by terrorists of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine from Shechem to smuggle the terrorist who executed the suicide bombing. Daah mentioned that she was asked by a terrorist if she is ready to carry out a suicide bombing of her own. Daah refused to sacrifice herself but she did express readiness to participate in the implementation of a terrorist attack. On day of the attack, Daah entered the city wearing a white tight shirt and tight pants, with sunglasses, carrying a brown purse and a ribbon tied to her hair. When arriving at the entrance to the market,  in which, she requested from the driver that he wait at the entrance of the market for about 5 minutes in order that she would be able to flee with the taxi and only after operating the explosive device that she carried in her purse. The explosion occurred a few minutes after Daah returned to the taxi.

Arin Achmad, a 20 year old student from Beit Sahour wore tight pants and a midriff  shirt in an attempt to disguise her Palestinian Arab origin in order to help the suicide bomber, aged 17 execute a suicide bombing in Rishon Lezion on May 22, 2002. In the terrorist attack, many civilians were murdered and many were wounded: Together with Isa Badir, an Islamic 17 year old terrorist who in the end executed the attack, Arin brought to the area of the planned terrorist attack Ibrahim Sarachana and his wife Irana. The original plan was that Issa would blow himself up adjacent to the tables of backgammon where people sat around. Arin would wait on the other side of the road then explode herself with the explosive device on the people who will flee from panic alongside the other side of the street. The explosive devices were placed in the purses which Arin and Isa carried, each weighing about 77 pounds The explosive device was detonated by a switch where a stick in the purse was connected to strings. Arin said that when she saw the place where she was to blow herself up, she changed her mind and requested to return back. 

Amnaa Munah, 26, a student and reporter, a student and reporter introduced the idea to her friend Hassan Alkaidi, a Tanzim terrorist from Ramallah, of kidnapping an Israeli after making contact with him via the Internet. Muna made contact with a young Israeli boy via the internet and persuaded him to meet with her, in which she after brought him to the scene of the murder in Ramallah on Jan. 17, 2001. Amnaa a Fatah terrorist from Bir Naballah was also near Ramallah, was involved in the boy's abduction and murder. 

Imao Asah, 27, from Shechem, married and the mother of two children placed an explosive device in the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station on Aug.8, 2001: The explosive device was discovered by security forces before it had the chance to explode. Iman consented to the request of her husband who was suspected of collaborating with Israel , to execute a terrorist attack of placing an explosive device in order to "clear his name", " as well to improve his family relations". Iman's brother, known as a Fatah terrorist was also behind the terrorist attack attempt. Iman and her husband were arrested by Israeli security forces after attempting to execute the attack.

Avir Chamdan, 26, from Shechem, was killed on July 31, 2001 while transporting an explosive device while riding in a taxi from Tulkarem to Shechem. The explosion occurred apparently as a result from "a working accident" while preparing the device for the terrorist attack in a restaurant in Hadera. Avir operated via Tanzim terrorists near Shechem.

Tahani Titi
  24, was detained by security forces after she attempted to execute a suicide bombing. In her investigation she said that in September 2001 she met Valid Tzabich, a wanted Tanzim terrorist from Bethlehem who was killed in an initiated activity by security forces. Valid suggested that Tahiti to establish contact with two Tanzim terrorists in Ramallah who will help her execute a suicide bombing.

At the end of June, Tahini tried to commit suicide by taking pills, but failed. She mentioned that she wanted to end her life, but  not for nationalistic reasons. She also said that she did not hate Jews and her visits in Israel were all for the good and that she was impressed by how the Israelis lead free lives. The case of Tahini constitutes a classic example of the cynical abuse by terrorist groups of exploiting the young and innocent to carry out their murders..

Teoraya Chamor, 26, was arrested in Beit Dudata in Tulkarem while on her way to execute a suicide bombing in Jerusalem .  In her investigation she said that four months before her arrest she knew Monir Chalava who asked her to marry him. Teoraya's family had not allowed her to marry him and as a result she decided to commit suicide in a terrorist attack. Later she made contact with Tanzim terrorists from Jaba and Shechem who prepared her to carry out a terrorist attack. According to the plan she was to travel from Nablus to Tal from there to Kalandia and to east Jerusalem and eventually reach western Jerusalem and blow herself up in a crowded place. In the apartment in Shechem the explosive belt was measured which was used to dress the body and gave her a detailed briefing on how to activate the explosive belt and the explosive device that she would carry. Additionally, her operators decided to equip her with a purse full of nails which weighed 35 kilograms. Teoraya stated that she regretted her attempt to carry out the attack in the last moment.

Shafa Alkadsi
A 26 year old Tanzim terrorist from Tulkarem, a divorcee and mother. On April 11, 2002, a day after a withdrawal of IDF forces from Tulkarem (the end of the Defensive Shield Operation), Shafa was questioned by her parents as to her odd behavior. She confessed that she was supposed to execute a triple suicide bombing together with another young person the following day. Shafa planned to wear on her body an explosive belt under the cover of a maternity dress in order not arouse any suspicion. Along with her, another young person was to wear an explosive belt and a second explosive device which he was to conceal at the designated place before the attack. The plan was that Shafa would blow herself up first and later when there would be a cluster of people at the scene, the second bomber would then blow himself up. The arrest of Shafa by Israeli security forces thwarted her attempt to execute the suicide bombing.  Her brother was arrested in February of 2002 on his way to carry out a suicide bombing.

Iman Abu Chutza
21, a resident of Jabalya, on April 25, 2002 to the Rafiah area, where she hid in a building and began crawling into a nearby Israeli settlement in order to blow herself up there. IDF soldiers discovered her and arrested her immediately. Iman joined two other Fatah terrorists from the Gaza Strip to carry out a suicide bombing. These 2 terrorists trained her on how to operate a hand grenade and fire a Kalashnikov rifle. 

Lila Bachari, 26, a resident of Shechem was arrested on Aug.1, 2002 for her part in a suicide bombing.  Lila assisted  Darin Abu-Isa with attaching the explosive belt to his body.  Darin then executed the suicide bombing at the Macccabim checkpoint.

Female suicide bomber with image of Arafat on  her headwear.

Women Suicide Bombers Since the beginning of the Intifada, the phenomenon of using women  as suicide bombers and executing terrorist attacks has grown. The terrorist groups, the ones who implement the attacks search to exploit the embodied advantages of the participation of women in order to carry out terrorist attacks mainly within the Green Line.

This is the supposition that women are seen as tender, delicate and innocent, and as such stimulates less suspicion than a man. In all the incidents which women have been involved in terrorist attacks there has been a need for camouflage, enabling them to be assimilated in Israeli streets. Female terrorists attempt to present themselves as Westerners by wearing non-conservative dress such as short skirts, maternity dress and modern haircuts.

As of today, 8 women have carried out suicide terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. As a result of these suicide terrorist attacks 39 Israelis have been killed and approximately 300 maimed. Since September 2000, more than 50 women have been arrested by security forces who were to carry out suicide terrorist attacks or aid in their execution. In October 2004 only, 14 women have been arrested ready to perpetuate a suicide terrorist attack. Palestinian Women involved in Terrorist Activities

In most cases, these women represent two spectrums of Palestinian Arab society. Among them are literate women, with professions as well as young and popular and non popular women who lack higher education and a profession. The participation of women involved in terror activities is divided into different levels.

The highlight of this phenomenon of female suicide bombers and those who execute suicide bombings is that their actions have been thwarted before they managed to carry out their attacks. Additionally, women have been used for terror activities such as in planning and implementing the attacks.

The phenomenon of Palestinian Arab women involved in terror activities has existed for many years. One need only look into the past. One prominent example was an active senior terrorist in the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, Ataf Alian, who planned to execute a suicide bombing by detonating a car bomb in Jerusalem in 1987. Ataf Ailan was imprisoned in Israel for 10 years and was released in 1997.

Another prominent example is Lyla Chalad, a senior terrorist of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was involved in the high jacking of an Israeli airplane in 1969.