View source for Egyptian airstrike on the Old Tel Aviv central bus station

{{Short description|Egyptian operation during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War}}
{{infobox civilian attack
| title = Egyptian airstrike on the Old Tel Aviv central bus station
| location = [[Old Tel Aviv central bus station]]
| date = May 19, 1948
| partof = the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]
| image = Tel Aviv-Yafo (997008136796005171).jpg
| caption = Damaged buildings and vehicles following the Egyptian airstrike on Tel Aviv
| coordinates = {{coord|32|03|37|N|34|46|43|E}}
| type = [[Airstrike]]
| weapons = [[C-47]]s
| fatalities = 42
| injuries = 100+
| perpetrator = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Royal Egyptian Air Force (1922-1952).svg}} [[Egyptian Air Force|Royal Egyptian Air Force]]
}}
On May 18, 1948, the [[Egyptian Air Force|Royal Egyptian Air Force]] bombed the [[Old Tel Aviv central bus station]] four days after [[Israel]] [[Israeli Declaration of Independence|declared independence]], killing 42 people.
The attack occurred during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] amid a bombing campaign by [[Egypt|Egyptian]] forces in [[Tel Aviv]] that killed 150 people in total.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-03 |title=When the Egyptians Bombed Tel Aviv |url=https://blog.nli.org.il/en/hoi_egypt_tel-aviv/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> The bombing occurred on May 18 when Egyptian [[C-47|C-47s]] launched an attack on the bus station, which was crowded with passengers at the time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=⁨Egyptian Craf * Over Tel Aviv ⁩ {{!}} ⁨The Palestine Post⁩ {{!}} 20 May 1948 {{!}} Newspapers {{!}} The National Library of Israel |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/pls/1948/05/20/01/article/7 |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=www.nli.org.il |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Last tickets, please |url=https://www.jpost.com/local-israel/tel-aviv-and-center/last-tickets-please |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |date=6 August 2009 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[The Palestine Post]] reported a "50-pound [[fragmentation bomb]]" shook the building.<ref name=":1" /> 42 people died in total, including four members of the [[Dan Bus Company]].<ref name=":2" /> Over 100 people were injured.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Boring |first=War Is |date=2019-03-08 |title=Fact: Nazi Fighter Planes Saved Israel During a War |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/fact-nazi-fighter-planes-saved-israel-during-war-46522 |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}</ref>
The bus station was significantly damaged by the explosion, which was also the deadliest attack of its kind by the Egyptian Air Force.<ref name=":0" /> Many Israelis, especially residents of Tel Aviv, were outraged by the incident and called for the [[Israeli Air Force]] to bomb Egypt in retaliation. The bombing also convinced many pilots, including [[Lou Lenart]], to join the war on behalf of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=i24NEWS |title=Lauded Israeli pilot who stopped Egyptian advance, dead at 94 |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/79260-150722-lauded-israeli-pilot-who-stopped-egyptian-advance-dead-at-94 |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=I24news |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
== See also ==
* [[History of Tel Aviv]]
* [[Killings and massacres during the 1948 Palestine war]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:May 1948 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Airstrikes conducted by Egypt|Old Tel Aviv central bus station]]
[[Category:Egyptian war crimes|Old Tel Aviv central bus station]]
[[Category:20th-century mass murder in Israel]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1948|Tel_Aviv_bus_station_bombing]]
[[Category:Airstrikes in Israel]]
[[Category:Egypt–Israel military relations]]
[[Category:Attacks on bus stations in Asia]]
[[Category:Murder in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in the 1940s]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:1940s in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:Massacres in the Arab–Israeli conflict]]
[[Category:Building bombings in Israel]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War]]
[[Category:Military history of Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:Egypt in the Arab–Israeli conflict]]
[[Category:Cross-border operations into Israel]]
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