Last Etzel Fighter Recalls King David Hotel Bombing 80 Years Later

In a few days, Israel will mark the 80th anniversary of the King David Hotel bombing, a daring and complex operation carried out by the Irgun (Etzel) against the British Mandate authorities. The attack targeted the British administrative and intelligence headquarters in Jerusalem, delivering a clear message that the Etzel would relentlessly pursue British officials anywhere in the region.

Haim Itani, now over 98 years old and likely one of the last surviving Etzel fighters involved, recently recounted his role in the operation. He revealed that he was tasked with transporting seven heavy milk cans filled with explosives from a dairy company in Tel Aviv to a bus station in Givat Herzl, unaware at the time that these were intended for the King David Hotel bombing. Itani described how he enlisted the help of a Yemeni man with a cart and bicycle to move the cans further, eventually passing them to other fighters who smuggled them into the hotel.

According to historian Moshe Kashi, who documented Itani’s biography, on July 22, 1946, two Etzel squads disguised as Arabs planted the explosives inside the hotel’s restaurant, near structural pillars. One fighter set a 30-minute delay timer, and another squad warned hotel occupants to evacuate. About 25 minutes later, a massive explosion destroyed the hotel’s southern wing, which housed seven floors.

The bombing killed 91 people, mostly British and Arabs, along with 17 Jews, and injured 45 others. The attack severely damaged the British Mandate’s central command and intelligence hub, destroying hundreds of intelligence documents. It also led to a harsh British crackdown, including arrests and executions of Etzel members. Itani expressed no regret for his participation, recalling the significant impact the operation had on the British administration in Palestine.

This anniversary highlights the lasting historical significance of the King David Hotel bombing as a pivotal moment in the Jewish underground struggle against British rule.