Police at the scene of a terrorist attack in Jerusalem.
Photo: REUTERS
At least three people were killed and six injured in a terrorist attack at a bus stop in Jerusalem this morning, the Times of Israel reports. Two of the attackers were shot dead in return fire. According to Israeli media, previously convicted Hamas supporters opened fire on Israelis.
Around 8 a.m. shots were heard at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem. According to Israeli doctors, the 24-year-old girl died instantly and two other elderly Israelis died from her injuries in the hospital. Two more victims are in serious condition. The names of the victims have not been officially released. However, one of the dead was identified on social media as Ashdod Judge Rabbi Elmelech Wasserman, 73.
The moment of the attack was captured on video. Footage shows two gunmen getting out of a car on Weizmann Street and opening fire on people at a bus stop with a pistol and an M-16 rifle. The attackers died when they returned fire. According to the police, two soldiers and an armed civilian, who were off duty and happened to be at the scene of the attack, engaged in a shootout with the terrorists. Israeli media write that the attackers were Palestinians from East Jerusalem, brothers Murad Namr (38 years old) and Ibrahim Namr (30 years old). According to the Shin Bet security agency, the two were members of Hamas and had previously been convicted of terrorism: Murad was imprisoned from 2010 to 2020 for planning attacks, and Ibrahim was jailed in 2014. A search of his car revealed a large amount of ammunition. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lyon ordered increased security measures in the capital and a search is underway for possible accomplices.
The terrorist’s shots occurred in the morning at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem.
Photo: REUTERS
A year ago, on November 23, 2022, bus stops in Jerusalem were already being attacked by terrorists. Then a double terrorist attack occurred in the Givat Shaul area in the southwest of the city: as a result of explosions at the entrance to the city, 2 people were killed and 22 were injured. Another similar attack took place in Jerusalem on January 27 of this year. A Palestinian gunman waited until the end of Shabbat prayers, got out of his car and shot at synagogue visitors, killing 7 people.
Far-right Israeli politicians have already made radical calls when commenting on the morning terrorist attack. Arriving at the scene of the attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Israel must respond to terrorism with military pressure: “Incidents of this type demonstrate once again that we cannot show weakness, that we must talk to Hamas only. through intentions. , only through war.” He also reiterated his policy of getting more civilians to carry weapons. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for his part, wrote on social media: “The terrible attack in Jerusalem reminds us that our enemies “It’s not just the Nazis in the Gaza Strip. We will pursue and destroy them, with God’s help, everywhere.”
“This terrorist attack is further proof of our commitment to continue fighting with determination and determination against the deadly terrorism that threatens our citizens. In Jerusalem, Gaza, Judea and Samaria and everywhere,” War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz also said, using the biblical name for the West Bank.
As KP.RU previously wrote, before the Hamas attack on October 7, the West Bank and East Jerusalem were the main source of tension between Israelis and Palestinians.
At the same time
Despite the brutal attack, the truce between Israel and Hamas was extended for at least one more day. The parties could not agree on the terms of the exchange of hostages until the last minute, but literally a couple of minutes before the truce expired new agreements were announced with the help of Qatar. It is reported that eight more Israeli hostages will be released today. According to unconfirmed Israeli media reports, the obstacle was that Hamas included on the list two Russian women who had already been freed the previous day, or the bodies of Israeli hostages. An attempt to disrupt the ceasefire is considered one of the possible versions of a terrorist attack, but the Israeli authorities remain committed to the agreements reached.
Let us remember that on Wednesday Hamas freed 16 hostages: 12 Israelis and four Thais. In total, since the start of the temporary ceasefire, 97 people have been rescued from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip: 73 Israelis, 23 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino. Three more hostages with Russian citizenship were released as a “gesture of goodwill” towards Russia outside of the general agreements.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS