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The 2004 attack killed 16 Israelis and injured around 100, marking one of the deadliest terror attacks of the Second Intifada.
By United with Israel Staff
In a joint statement, the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of senior Hamas terrorist Basel Himoni, responsible for the 2004 Beersheba bus bombings that murdered 16 Israeli civilians and wounded approximately 100 others.
Himoni, originally from Hebron, was a senior terrorist in Hamas’ military wing and played a central role in orchestrating the August 2004 double suicide bombing attack on two buses in Beersheba.
The coordinated assault killed 16 Israelis and injured around 100, marking one of the deadliest terror attacks of the Second Intifada.
In October 2004, Himoni was captured in a joint Shin Bet–IDF operation, tried, and sentenced to prison. He was later released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal and deported to the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli security officials, he quickly returned to terrorist activity, recruiting operatives and directing attacks. During the current war, he was involved in manufacturing and planting explosive devices targeting Israeli troops.
Officials described his elimination in a strike in Gaza last week as “an important and moral closing of the circle,” adding that Israeli forces “will continue to act against any terrorist who seeks to promote and carry out attacks against IDF forces and the citizens of the State of Israel.”
The announcement comes as Israeli forces intensify operations against Hamas terrorists responsible for deadly attacks during the current war.
Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF confirmed the elimination of Ahmad Hasan, head of the sniper array in Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion, who was recently identified as actively advancing additional terror attacks against Israeli troops.
According to the military, Hasan led the July 7, 2025, attack in which five soldiers were killed and two others were seriously wounded.
Ahmad Hasan, Hamas sniper commander eliminated by the IDF. (IDF)
He was also involved in the April 19, 2025, attack that killed another soldier and seriously wounded a tracker, a female combat officer, and a combat medic.
In a separate attack on April 24, 2025, another reservist was killed and two soldiers were seriously injured.
The IDF stated that Hasan’s elimination followed Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire earlier this week and emphasized that Israeli security forces will continue pursuing those responsible for attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.
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