Gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop in the northern outskirts of Jerusalem, killing six people and injuring 12 others on Monday. The attack took place during the morning rush hour, when the bus stop was busy with commuters. Among the dead were a 79-year-old former cardiologist, a 43-year-old rabbi, and a 25-year-old man who had recently emigrated from Spain. The attack left 26 others injured, including six who sustained serious gunshot wounds.
An off-duty soldier and a civilian at the scene confronted the gunmen and fatally shot them. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the attack site with national security officials, pledging severe retaliation and stating that the conflict continues both in Gaza and within Israeli territories. Netanyahu warned civilians in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of an impending Israeli ground operation.
Following the attack, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) placed the area surrounding the gunmen’s origins under a full closure, while intensifying operations in pursuit of additional terrorist cells. Eyal Zamir, the IDF’s chief of staff, vowed to continue targeted intelligence efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure.
Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, expressed support for the gunmen, but refrained from formally claiming responsibility. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, urging an end to violence.
In another development, violence in Gaza escalated as four Israeli soldiers were killed by an explosive device targeting their tank. This attack was followed by retaliatory fire from Israeli forces, which reportedly killed at least 65 Palestinians in the past 24 hours and injured hundreds more. The rising tensions have led to an increase in violence not only within Gaza but also in the West Bank, where both militant attacks and settler violence against Palestinians have surged.
The ongoing escalation in violence has drawn international condemnation, with statements from Spain, the European Union, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians on both sides of the conflict.
