Palestinian bomber – dropped out of university
Photo: AP
Bomber's family caught by surprise
Suicide bomber's mother says she saw no indications former university student joined terror group
Bomber's family clears furniture for fear of IDF house demolition: The Khamad family from the West Bank village of Arakeh near the town of Jenin was surprised to hear Monday afternoon that family member Sami Khamad was behind the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv earlier in the day.
Khamed had graduated from high school and studied social work through a distance-learning program of al-Quds University, but was forced to drop out because his parents could not afford to support him, the mother said. After leaving the university, he took odd jobs, including at an area restaurant, the family said.
Khamad's family said he had studied social work in a distance-learning program but was forced to quit because of money problems. The bomber's mother said he left the house several days ago without telling her where he was headed.
Terror Attack
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In a video released by the Islamic Jihad, Khamad said the bombing was dedicated to the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. "There are many other bombers on the way," he said. Khamad was dressed in black and wore a headband with yellow Quranic verses.
Monday was marked as Prisoners Day in the Palestinian areas.
After learning of the bombing, the Khamads began moving furniture and belongings out of their home, for fear it would be demolished by the IDF.
Samiya Khamad said there had been no warning signs that her son was getting involved with a terror group.
'Israelis must feel what we feel'
Earlier, Moussa abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader abroad, told al-Jazeera television that "the Israeli side must feel what the Palestinian feels, and the Palestinian defends himself as much as he can."
Meanwhile, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah party, condemned the bombing, calling it terrorist attack. Abbas said he ordered the Palestinian security forces to try to prevent more attacks.
"These kinds of attacks harm the Palestinian interest, and we as an authority and government must move to stop it," he said. "We will not stop pursuing anyone who carries out such attacks."
