Hamas claims responsibility for Jerusalem shooting which killed three | Israel | The Guardian
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Two attackers, reportedly brothers from East Jerusalem, killed at scene, after they opened fire on people at a bus stop
Three people were killed and 13 injured after two brothers from East Jerusalem shot at people waiting at a bus stop on a main road towards the western edge of the city in the rush hour, local police and medics reported.
The gunmen were named by the Shin Bet security agency as Murad Namr, 38, and Ibrahim Namr, 30, and described by the intelligence service as members of Hamas. Both were killed on the scene by off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian.
Later on Thursday, Hamas's armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack. The statement posted on the group's Telegram channel said the operation was in response "to the occupation's crimes of killing children and women in Gaza".
Surveillance video footage of the bus stop showed two men getting out of a car at about 7.40am local time, brandishing guns, prompting people to flee in terror before they retreated to the vehicle, where police said they were killed.
The ambulance service said a 24-year-old woman died at the scene, while a 73-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, critically wounded, were pronounced dead at hospitals shortly after the incident. Media reports named the dead man as Elimelech Wasserman, a rabbinical judge.
Israeli police said the initial investigation indicated the attackers arrived by car and were "armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun". They began shooting at civilians before subsequently being killed at the scene. A search of the car "revealed ammunition and weaponry", the force added.
Shin Bet said the gunmen had been previously jailed for terror activity. The elder brother, Murad, spent 10 years in jail to 2020 for planning terror attacks, under direction from Gaza, while Ibrahim had been jailed in 2014.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's security minister and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, visited the scene and said the attack at the bus stop showed that the country needed to respond to Hamas militarily.
"This type of incident proves again how much we can't show weakness, how much we have to speak to Hamas only through intentions, only through the war," he said, according to the Times of Israel. Ben-Gvir has previously called for an end to the current truce.
He said the attack showed that Israeli civilians should carry guns on the street. "Despite the criticism of all kinds of parties, I will continue this policy of handing out weapons everywhere," he added.
Two hospitals received eight people in the aftermath of the attack, with five described in media reports as having serious injuries.
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Israel will now probably end the truce from their side and continue to bombard Gaza which is well deserved.
Jerusalem is in the West Bank not Gaza.
I think I heard there was a late day 24 hr extension agreed to yesterday, but I don't expect much after that.
I read that as well, but with this Hamas attack Israel may ignore the extension.
I can't say I blame them. I think Hamas wanted to end the truce
Hamas is a step beyond stupid with this killing of Israelis. They will now suffer the consequences.
You can't make peace with terrorists.
Do you think that I'm not well aware of that, probably more than 99% of those commenting.
I believe that I told you earlier that the Saudi proposal from the early 2000s is a good starting point which covered much of the current problems.
Obviously the shooters are West Bank Palestinians. Hamas is everywhere it seems and certainly not confined to Gaza
This goes to show the task ahead. Of course Hamas will claim such murders are "revenge" for "killing children and women in Gaza". Who is surprised by this?
The true test will come after a permanent cease fire. If Hamas continues to attack after such a condition then they would justly lose any support. This has to be emphasized.
And by the way, I do not support Hamas in any way shape or form and await the day they are gone from this world. I am just being realistic. You cant kill 10,000 civilians and not expect an eye for an eye, the cycle that continues ad infinitum in that region.
You really believe that Netanyahu can be pressured into that?
You can't trust any numbers coming from the Palestine "authorities".