Oldest Palestinian suicide bomber. 64-yr-old Fatma Omar An-Najar is a grandmother
JEBALIYA, Gaza Strip: A 64-year-old
Palestinian grandmother blew herself up near Israeli troops sweeping through
northern Gaza on Thursday. Hamas, which is in charge of the Palestinian government, claimed responsibility for the
suicide attack and identified the bomber as Fatma Omar An-Najar. Her relatives said she was 64 — by far the oldest of the more than 100 Palestinian suicide bombers who have targeted Israelis over the past six years. Israeli forces were moving through the Jebaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza when they spotted a woman acting suspiciously, the military said. Soldiers threw a stun grenade, a weapon that makes a loud nose, but causes no damage. The woman then set off explosives she was carrying, killing herself and wounding two. Her oldest daughter Fatheya explained the bomber's motives. "They (Israelis) destroyed her house, they killed her grandson — my son. Another grandson is in a wheelchair with an amputated leg," she said.
Militant women: Female suicide bombers were a rarity during the first several years of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but that has gradually changed. The last suicide bombing, on November 6, was also carried out by a woman in northern Gaza. But the past few weeks have seen an increase in militant activity by women in Gaza who have served as "human shields".
Final video: Before setting out on her mission, An-Najar filmed the video testament customary for suicide bombers, which shows her wearing a white headscarf and black dress, toting an assault rifle on her shoulder and standing in front of a Hamas wall mural. Reading from a sheet of paper, she dedicated her attack to the Hamas-led government and to the movement's military commander, Mohammed Deif.
"I hope God accepts it," she said.