The IDF Military Court in Shomron (Samaria) handed down on Tuesday a triple life sentence against Khalid Abu Hamed, a resident of Shechem, for his part in a triple-murder terror attack at the Ariel gas station in 2002.
In addition, the court sentenced him to 40 more years in prison for other terror offenses.
Hamed was convicted of intentionally causing death by transporting a suicide bomber to the Eshel HaShomron gas station at the main entrance to Ariel on October 27, 2002. Three people were killed in the bombing and 15 were injured.
Matan Zagron, Amihud Hasid and Tamir Masad, May HaShem Avenge Their Blood.
Abu Hamed became involved in the plans to carry out an attack in August 2002. He purchased a car with the purpose of using it as a getaway vehicle. He joined Muatak Alwawi, who agreed to be the suicide bomber who would carry out the attack but changed his mind at the last minute. This attack was aborted.
Two months later another suicide bomber was found: Muhammad Bustami. Three days before the planned attack, Abu Hamed and Bustami reconnoitered the site of the planned attack.
On October 27 2002, Abu Hamed brought the terrorist, who wore a suicide bomb vest and carried an M-16 rifle, to the gas station. When the terrorist walked into the gas station he aroused the suspicion of soldiers and civilians, who struggled with him and fired at him. These shots detonated the explosive belt, killing Matan Zagron, Amihud Hasid and Tamir Masad. Abu Hamed made his escape meanwhile and was only arrested at a later date.
Abu Hamed was also convicted of a conspiracy to carry out another attack, this time at his former place of employment at Meskha in the Lower Galilee. Abu Hamed, who told a co-conspirator that security forces were after him and that he was unable to plan the attack properly, canceled this attack.
'Vile acts'
In handing down the sentence, Judge Maj. Tzvi Heilbrun wrote that “because of the vile acts of the accused, he is no longer worthy of walking freely among men and is not worthy of enjoying the company of his relatives and friends, for in his actions he took the lives of others who did him no harm.”
“No expression we choose would convey the cruelty of the accused’s actions and the proper punishment for his deeds,” the judge added. “For these actions he should receive the harshest punishment possible.”