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The Netanya suicide attack (also known as the Netanya bombing and the Passover massacre) was a Palestinian suicide bombing in Park Hotel at Netanya on March 27, 2002. The attack claimed the life of 30 Israeli civilians and triggered Operation Defensive Shield.
The attack occurred on the night of March 27, when the traditional Jewish holiday of Passover was celebrated. Park Hotel in Netanya held a big Passover dinner for its 250 guests in the ground-floor dinning room. A Palestinian suicide bomber entered the hotel dining room and detonated an explosive device he carried upon himself. 28 people were immediately killed, and about 140 were injured, of whom 20 were seriously injured. Two of the injured later died from their wounds. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist was identified as Abdel-Basset Odeh, a member of the Hamas Iz a Din al-Kassam Brigades, from the nearby Westbank city of Tulkarem.
Leaders from around the world denounced the massacre as an immoral terrorist act. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his cabinet ordered the immediate recruit of 20,000 reservist in an emergency call-up and in the following day launched Operation Defensive Shield.
The bombing
Reactions
The victims
See also: Terrorism against Israel , List of massacres committed during the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

