Terror masterminded convicted
Abbas al-Sayad found guilty of 35 counts of murder Thursday. Hamas terrorist initiated and planned 2002 suicide bombing at Park hotel, which claimed lives of 30 people, as well as mall bombing that killed five
(VIDEO) The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court convicted Thursday morning Hamas terrorist Abbas al-Sayad in connection with two suicide bombings that claimed the lives of 35 people and wounded scores.
The verdict was delivered in a closed-door session. Upon entering the court, al-Sayad told reporters: “Everything is because of the occupation.”
Terrorist at court (Video: Yaron Brenner)
Al-Sayad, who headed Hamas’ military wing in the West Bank town of Tul Karem, planned and initiated the bombing in Netanya’s Park hotel in March 2002, the intifadah’s most devastating terror attack. The bombing, on the eve of Pesach, was viewed by Israel as the crossing of a red line and prompted a large-scale IDF operation in the West Bank.
The suicide bomber entered the hotel around 7:15 P.M. and crossed the lobby in the direction of the dining hall, where about 250 people were taking part in a celebratory Pesach dinner. An armed security guard deployed in the area failed to stop the terrorist, who entered the dining hall and detonated himself.
The powerful blast sowed destruction in the dining hall and hotel, with parts of the ceiling collapsing on guests. Overall, 19 people died on the spot and another 150 were wounded. After the attack, another 11 people succumbed to their wounds.
The attack prompted the IDF to launch Operation Defensive Shield shortly afterwards.
Refusal to testify
Attorney Nir Mamon, who represented al-Sayad on behalf of the Public Defender’s Office, said he intends to appeal the conviction.
“Unusual measures were employed against him during his petition, but he court did not attribute to them the weight we wanted,” the attorney said. “He (al-Sayad) did not testify…because he completely lost his trust in the justice system.”
Al-Sayad pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. He said he did not serve as a Hamas leader and did not undertake any acts related to terror attacks. However, his refusal to testify was held against him by the court.
The three judges ruled he did not provide a reasonable explanation for his silence and said it reinforced the prosecution’s case.
Meanwhile an attorney for the prosecution said she intends to ask for a severe punishment reflecting the severity of the offences, namely 35 consecutive life sentences and additional jail time for membership in a terror organization and the wounding of scores of people.
Rina Hamami, who's husband, Amiram Hamami, was manager of the Park hotel, and who was murdered in the terror attack, said, "From my view, the trial ended a year ago. It doesn't matter to me whether he gets 35 years of jail or one year. He has to receive the death sentence, and any other punishment is simply not enough. That's why we didn't go to the trial. It doesn't matter to us. The suffering is the same suffering every day, there is no difference between the day he was convicted and every other day in the past three and a half years."
"As far we're concerned, only a death sentence for all serial terrorists will be the only right punishment. We are with close contact with all the (other bereaved families) and from my perspective they are already family. Blood ties are very deep," added Hamami.
In August 2002, al-Sayad was charged with planning further suicide terror attacks, for which he had already prepared two more suicide bombers, explosive belts, and a bottle of cyanide to be used for a mass poison attack.
Al-Sayad was charged with 35 counts of murder, attempted murder, causing injury with murderous intentions, and membership of a terror organization.
The prosecution also said that al-Sayad had direct contact with Hamas's Syrian leadership, who transferred tens of thousands of dollars to al-Sayad for the purchasing of weapons for use in terror attacks.
