Gal Shapira

Jan 14, 2004 - Gal Shapira, 29, of Ashkelon was one of four Israelis killed when a female suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the Erez Crossing in the Gaza Strip, which serves Palestinians entering Israel for work.

At about 9:30 in the morning, when the bomber, a 22-year-old mother of two, reached the area where Palestinian workers are inspected prior to entry into Israel, she told security personnel that she had a metal plate in her leg which could set off an alarm. Because she was a woman, a female soldier was sent for to inspect her. While she was waiting for the arrival of the woman soldier, the bomber apparently succeeded in penetrating a meter or two into the inspection hall, and blew herself up, killing four Israelis and wounding 12. The explosion ripped through the recently dedicated facility where Palestinian laborers and foreigners cross into Israel. Hamas and the Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

Gal Shapira was born in Belarus, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1992. He served in the IDF parachute regiment in Lebanon and was studying computer science at the Ashkelon branch of Bar-Ilan University. For the past four years, he was employed as a shift manager at the Erez Crossing after failing to find work in hi-tech. "He was planning to study for a master's degree and to open a business," said Marina, his girlfriend. "He was modest and quiet, and he took his job very seriously. He was going to quit his job at Erez in the next few days."

Gal Shapira was buried in Ashkelon. He is survived by his parents, Boris and Yelena, and older sister.