Avi Bayaz

May 7, 2002 - Avi Bayaz, 26, of Nes Ziona was one of 15 people killed when a suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge in a game club located on the 3rd floor of a building in Rishon Lezion, causing part of the building to collapse. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

At about 11:00 PM, the terrorist entered the unlicensed Sheffield Club with a suitcase of explosives, spiked with shrapnels and nails to cause maximum injury. The patrons were trying their luck at slot machines, card games or snooker. 15 were killed, and 55 wounded in the blast.

Avi Bayaz was in charge of a shift at the Kapulsky coffee shop in a shopping mall located near the Sheffield Club. He was planning to go to a beach cafe, and went into the club with a friend to call on another friend, who was waiting in the club, when the bomb went off. Avi was killed instantly and his friend, Tomer Sasson, was seriously injured.

Avi Bayaz was buried in Nes Ziona. He is survived by his parents and three younger brothers, Eliran, Gil and Lior.