Suicide Bombing Kills Three in Israeli Resort Town Posted: February 5, 2007

Three people were killed and two others critically wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a bakery in the Israeli resort town of Eilat on January 29, 2007. 

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsibility for the attack.  The Army of Believers, a previously unknown group, also claimed responsibility.  Mohammed Faisal al-Saqsaq, a 21-year-old from Gaza City, has been identified by PIJ as the bomber. 

Al-Saqsaq entered Israel from Egypt, according to Israeli authorities. Israeli security forces have reportedly captured over 100 Palestinian terrorists crossing from Gaza into Egypt, then from Egypt into Israel.

The Iranian-backed PIJ said the bombing "underscores the Palestinian resistance's intention to pursue Jihad until all Palestinian lands are liberated."  A spokesman for Hamas added, "So long as there is occupation, resistance is legitimate."

The bombing is the first to strike Israel's southernmost resort city and the first to hit Israel since April 2006, when a suicide bomber killed eight people near Tel Aviv's old bus station.

Below, is an image of Mohammed Faisal al-Saqsaq and the bombing aftermath from the PIJ Web site.