Major Events of July 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from July 2005 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of July 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Jul 2005 Sandra Day O'Connor Announces Supreme Court Retirement: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, announced her retirement after 24 years of distinguished service, marking a significant moment in judicial history.
- 02 Jul 2005 London Wins 2012 Summer Olympics Bid: The International Olympic Committee selected London as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, marking a significant moment in the city's history and setting the stage for a major international sporting event.
- 03 Jul 2005 Spain Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Spain becomes one of the first countries globally to legally recognize same-sex marriage nationwide, marking a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ rights and social equality.
- 04 Jul 2005 NASA Deep Impact Mission Strikes Comet Tempel 1: NASA's 'Copper bullet' spacecraft from the Deep Impact mission successfully collided with Comet Tempel 1, creating a scientific crater to study the comet's composition and internal structure. This groundbreaking mission provided unprecedented insights into the early solar system's formation.
- 05 Jul 2005 United Church of Christ Supports Same-Sex Marriage: The United Church of Christ became the first mainline U.S. Christian denomination to officially support same-sex marriages, passing a resolution encouraging member churches to adopt non-discriminatory wedding policies and support equal marriage rights.
- 06 Jul 2005 Chilean Court Removes Pinochet's Immunity: A Chilean court removed Augusto Pinochet's presidential immunity, allowing prosecution for investigations into the disappearance of political opposition during Operation Colombo, a crucial step in addressing human rights violations.
- 07 Jul 2005 London 7/7 Terrorist Bombings: On July 7, 2005, a coordinated terrorist attack struck London's transportation network. Four explosions occurred - three on the London Underground and one on a bus - resulting in 52 civilian deaths and over 700 injuries. The attacks were later confirmed to be suicide bombings carried out by al-Qaeda-inspired extremists.
- 08 Jul 2005 G8 Summit Concludes with Africa and Counter-Terrorism Commitments: The G8 Summit concluded with significant global commitments, including doubling aid to Africa from $25 billion to $50 billion by 2010, strengthening the Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative, and reaffirming a strong stance on counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.
- 09 Jul 2005 G8 Summit: Global Aid Commitments: At the 31st G8 summit in Gleneagles, world leaders pledged $50 billion to combat African poverty and $3 billion to Palestine for infrastructure development.
- 10 Jul 2005 John Garang Sworn as Sudan's Vice President: As part of the comprehensive peace agreement ending the Second Sudanese Civil War, John Garang, a prominent former rebel leader, was sworn into office as Vice President of Sudan, marking a significant milestone in the country's reconciliation efforts.
- 11 Jul 2005 Srebrenica Massacre Remembrance Ceremony: Tens of thousands of people gathered in Potocari, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to commemorate the Srebrenica massacre and provide a dignified burial for 610 victims, marking a solemn moment of remembrance for one of the most tragic events of the Bosnian War.
- 12 Jul 2005 London Bombings Suspects Identified: London police have identified four suspects in the July 7, 2005 London bombings. All are British citizens, apparently from Leeds in West Yorkshire. At least one suspect is believed to have been killed in the blasts. Forensic raids uncovered explosive materials and critical evidence.
- 13 Jul 2005 Suicide Car Bombing in Iraq: A devastating suicide car bomb near U.S. troops distributing candy and toys in Iraq killed over two dozen people, including 18 children and teenagers, and an American soldier, highlighting the brutal nature of the conflict.
- 14 Jul 2005 Europe Remembers London Bombing Victims: European citizens observed a two-minute silence to honor those killed in the London bombings of July 2005.
- 15 Jul 2005 London Bombing Suspect Arrested in Egypt: Magdi al Nashar, a chemist, was arrested in Egypt after being sought by British police in connection with the July 7th London bombings.
- 16 Jul 2005 Deadly Suicide Bombing near Baghdad: A devastating suicide bomber detonated explosives near an LPG fuel tanker south of Baghdad, causing a massive explosion that killed over 60 people and injured approximately 100. This attack was considered one of the most severe insurgent operations since the US occupation of Iraq, demonstrating the ongoing volatility in the region.
- 17 Jul 2005 Deadly Attacks in Iraq: A devastating fuel truck bombing killed 98 people, while three suicide car bombers attacked the capital of Iraq, underscoring the intense violence and instability in the region during this period.
- 18 Jul 2005 General William Westmoreland Passes Away: General William Westmoreland, a prominent military commander who led U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, died peacefully at a retirement home in South Carolina, marking the end of an era in American military history.
- 19 Jul 2005 Canada Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: The Canadian Senate passed Bill C-38 to legalize gay marriage, a landmark moment in LGBTQ+ rights. Upon receiving royal assent from Governor General Adrienne Blackson, the bill would become law, marking significant social progress.
- 20 Jul 2005 Canada Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Canada's Civil Marriage Act receives Royal Assent, officially legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. This landmark legislation made Canada the fourth country in the world to recognize same-sex marriages, marking a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ rights and social equality.
- 21 Jul 2005 London Attempted Terrorist Attacks: A coordinated terrorist attack targeted London's public transportation system, occurring exactly two weeks after the July 7 bombings. Four attempted bomb attacks were made on three underground trains and a London bus. Fortunately, the bombs failed to detonate properly, resulting in minimal disruption and only one unrelated injury.
- 22 Jul 2005 Jean Charles de Menezes Killed by London Police: On July 22, 2005, Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year-old Brazilian electrician, was fatally shot by Metropolitan Police at Stockwell Underground Station in London. He was mistakenly identified as a potential suicide bomber during the heightened security following the London bombings. The incident sparked significant controversy about police tactics and racial profiling.
- 23 Jul 2005 Sharm el-Sheikh Terrorist Attacks: A devastating terrorist attack occurred in the popular Egyptian resort town of Naama Bay, Sharm el-Sheikh, where three coordinated bomb explosions killed 88 people and injured many more. This tragic event shocked the international community and highlighted the ongoing terrorism challenges in the region.
- 24 Jul 2005 Lance Armstrong Wins Seventh Tour de France: Lance Armstrong, an American cyclist and cancer survivor, won his seventh consecutive Tour de France, marking an unprecedented achievement in professional cycling. He announced this would be his final Tour de France before retirement, capping a remarkable career.
- 25 Jul 2005 US-North Korea Diplomatic Talks Resume: Bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the United States and North Korea recommence, signaling potential diplomatic engagement amid ongoing tensions.
- 26 Jul 2005 Mumbai Floods of 2005: Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India's financial capital, experienced catastrophic flooding after receiving 995mm of rainfall within 24 hours. The extreme weather event brought the city to a complete standstill for over two days, causing significant disruption and damage.
- 27 Jul 2005 Maharashtra Floods Disaster: Devastating monsoon rains and landslides in Maharashtra, India, resulted in at least 418 fatalities, causing significant loss of life and widespread destruction.
- 28 Jul 2005 IRA Formally Ends Armed Campaign: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued an official statement formally ending its armed campaign that had been ongoing since 1969, ordering all its units to surrender their weapons. This marked a significant turning point in the Northern Ireland conflict, signaling a shift towards peaceful political resolution.
- 29 Jul 2005 Discovery of Dwarf Planet Eris: Astronomers announced the groundbreaking discovery of Eris, a significant trans-Neptunian object in the outer Solar System. This celestial body's discovery challenged previous understanding of planetary classification and ultimately contributed to the redefinition of planetary status.
- 30 Jul 2005 G8 Aid Pledge to Africa: G8 leaders committed to doubling aid to Africa from US$25 billion in 2004 to US$50 billion by 2010, influenced by the global Live 8 concert series and international advocacy for African development.
- 31 Jul 2005 Mumbai Monsoon Floods: Mumbai, India, faced severe monsoon flooding, with torrential rains causing widespread destruction. The catastrophic floods resulted in approximately 1,000 fatalities, highlighting the city's vulnerability to extreme weather events.