Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in east Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people and injuring several others, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed, calling it one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.
Saar stated that one of the victims was a recent immigrant from Spain, while local media reported that four of the deceased were ultra-Orthodox Israeli men. Emergency services treated 15 wounded individuals, seven of them in serious condition.
Police said the two attackers were killed at the scene after a security officer and a civilian returned fire. They added that the gunmen had arrived in a vehicle before opening fire at the bus stop.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, saying it strengthened Israel’s resolve against terrorism. He added that security forces were pursuing those who aided the attackers and were sealing off villages linked to them.
The Israeli army responded by encircling several areas near Ramallah in the West Bank. International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and officials from the UAE and Germany, strongly condemned the attack, calling it “cowardly” and “horrific.”
Hamas praised the attack, calling it a natural response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel’s far-right officials blamed the Palestinian Authority for inciting violence, while paramedics described the scene as chaotic with wounded lying on roads and sidewalks.
The attack adds to ongoing tensions following the October 2023 Hamas offensive, which killed over 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have killed tens of thousands, with the majority being civilians, escalating the conflict further.