October 9 –
Kidnapping of Nachshon Wachsman: IDF soldier Corporal
Nachshon Wachsman is kidnapped by
Hamas militants disguised as Jewish settlers. They later demand the release of
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and another 200 Palestinian Arab prisoners from Israeli prison in return for Wachsman's release.
October 19 –
Dizengoff Street bus bombing: 21 Israelis and a Dutch national are killed after a
suicide attack on a bus in
Tel Aviv. This was the first major suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Hamas claims responsibility for the bombing.
November 30 – 19-year-old female Israeli soldier Sgt. Liat Gabai is axed to death by the Palestinian Arab Islamic militant Wahib Abu Alrub in the center of the Israeli city
Afula.[3]
October 14 – Israeli elite special forces unit
Sayeret Matkal attempt to free the kidnapped IDF hostage
Nachshon Wachsman held by Palestinian assailants in the village of
Bir Nabala in the
West Bank; Wachsman and Nir Poraz, the commander of the rescue force, are killed by the assailants during the raid.