Six Israelis have been killed and eight others wounded by Palestinian gunmen in one of the deadliest shooting attacks in Jerusalem in the past few years.
Israeli police said two terrorists arrived in a vehicle and opened fire towards a bus stop at Ramot Junction, on the city's northern outskirts. An off-duty soldier and a civilian returned fire, neutralising the attackers, it added.
Israeli media identified the dead as five men, aged between 25 and 79, and a 60-year-old woman. Local hospitals said two of the wounded were in a serious condition.
There was no immediate claim from any armed groups, although Hamas praised the attack.
During a visit to the scene, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that Israel was in an intense war against terrorism on several fronts. He stated that Israeli security forces had thwarted hundreds of attacks in the occupied West Bank this year, but lamented that they could not prevent this incident.
The Israeli military indicated they were tightening security measures, encircling Palestinian villages linked to the attackers.
Eyewitness accounts recounted the chaos as the gunmen opened fire, with civilians rushing for safety. A first responder highlighted that the conflict involves people wishing harm and those aspiring for peaceful lives.
The attack took place during the busy morning rush hour, resulting in panic and chaos at the bus stop.
In response to the shooting, the Israeli President condemned the act, calling it an assault on innocent lives. Reactions from global leaders followed, with condemnations from France and the UK, as well as reaffirmations of solidarity from the U.S.
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, especially as Israel faces increased military pressures and negotiations for potential ceasefires concurrently with ongoing violence.
This attack marks a critical moment in the Israeli-Palestinian relations, and uncertainty looms over the future as both sides reassess their positions amid escalating hostilities.
