Cave of the Patriarchs massacre
A 1994 attack in Hebron in which Israeli extremist Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Palestinian worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque during Ramadan prayers.
Baruch Goldstein: An Israeli physician and extremist who killed 29 Palestinian worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in 1994. He carried out the massacre, using a rifle during Friday prayers.
Hebron Protocol: A 1997 agreement that divided responsibility for security and administration in Hebron between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Its arrangements formalized the division of the city after years of heightened tensions, including those following the massacre.
Purim: A Jewish holiday commemorating the deliverance of Jews in the Persian Empire, observed with readings, feasting, and celebration. Goldstein attacked on Purim, a timing that connected his violence to the holiday’s symbolism.
Sabra and Shatila massacre: The 1982 killing of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians in Beirut’s Sabra and Shatila refugee camps by Lebanese Christian militia members. It was another mass killing of Palestinian civilians, but occurred during Lebanon’s civil war and involved different perpetrators.
Hebron: A Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, home to sites sacred to Jews and Muslims. The massacre took place in this divided city, where religious and political tensions were acute.
Hebron massacre aftermath: The political, security, and communal consequences that followed the 1994 Cave of the Patriarchs massacre. The attack led to mourning, reprisals, and restrictions at the sacred site.
Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims with fasting, prayer, and communal worship. The victims were gathered for Ramadan prayers when the attack began.
Deir Yassin massacre: The 1948 killing of Palestinian villagers by members of the Irgun and Lehi Jewish underground forces near Jerusalem. It is a different episode of Israeli-Palestinian violence, separated by decades and a distinct wartime context.
Ibrahimi Mosque: A mosque in Hebron situated within the shared sacred complex also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. Palestinians were praying inside the mosque when Goldstein attacked.
Commission of Inquiry into the Hebron Massacre: An Israeli state commission that investigated the massacre and failures in security arrangements. The commission examined how Goldstein obtained access and how security authorities responded.