All photos below are from suicide bombings in Israel

February 27, 2005 - Relatives mourn at the funeral of Yitzhak Buzaglo, who was killed in a suicide bombing. Photo credit: Haim Azoulay, © Reuters

The remains of a bus destroyed by a suicide bomber. Eight people were killed in the attack which was carried out on February 22, 2004. Photo credit: Ayelet Even-Nur

The very worst and painful of those acts from an Israeli point of view was the Mahalot Massacre incident. In May 15, 1974, three heavily armed militants took over the Mahalot High School in north of Israel, taking several dozens teachers and students as hostages in the process. Sayeret MATKAL, then the Israeli unit with the most advanced CT capability (together with Sayeret Golany) was selected to carry out the rescue attempt.

At the beginning of the raid, Sayeret MATKAL sniper was suppose to take out the militants who was guarding the room in which most of the hostages were being held. The sniper, who was equipped with World War 2 Mauser 98 and not used to short range headshot sniping, failed to kill the target and only wounded him.

The injured man started throwing grenades and began auto-firing at the hostages. More mistakes were made, both in planning and in execution and at the end of the Sayeret MATKAL raid all three terrorists were dead, but 21 children and four adults, all of which civilians, were killed. Moreover, at least two civilians were killed by friendly fire since Sayeret MATKAL entry team was under-trained in CQB pinpoint shooting and hit some hostages who were standing close to the terrorists.


Sayeret MATKAL personnel looking at a dead terrorist after the raid in the Mahalot High School, May 15, 1974. The failed rescue which cost the lives of over 20 civilians