Palestinian Gunmen Open Fire at Bus Stop in Jerusalem, Killing Three Israelis

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At least three Israelis were killed and six others injured when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Thursday. The attack occurred during an uneasy truce between Israel and Hamas, following a devastating war that began on October 7. According to the police, the attackers arrived in a vehicle and indiscriminately fired at people waiting at the bus stop.

“At around 7:40 am (local time), two Palestinian gunmen exited a vehicle on Weizman Street, the main entrance to the capital, and opened fire at people waiting at a bus stop,” said the police. Two individuals sustained serious injuries during the attack. However, the gunmen were swiftly neutralized when two off-duty officers and an armed civilian returned fire.

Videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment when the gunmen arrived at the bus stop and began firing. Panic ensued as people scattered in all directions to avoid the barrage of bullets.

The two attackers have been identified as Murad Namr, 38, and Ibrahim Namr, 30, both from East Jerusalem. Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, revealed that the assailants were Hamas members and had previously been imprisoned for their involvement in terrorist activities. Murad had served a ten-year sentence between 2010 and 2020 for planning terror attacks under the instructions of Gaza-based terror elements. Ibrahim, on the other hand, was jailed in 2014 for undisclosed terror activities. The police discovered a significant amount of ammunition in their vehicle after the attack.

Among the victims, a 24-year-old woman was found dead at the scene by medics. An elderly man and a woman were declared dead at the hospital, adding to the tragic toll of the attack. Two of the wounded individuals remain in serious condition. It is worth noting that this bus stop was also the site of a deadly bomb attack almost exactly a year ago.

Extension of Israel-Hamas Truce Amidst Hostage Release Negotiations

The attack took place simultaneously with the extension of the temporary truce between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas. The truce, which was previously extended by two days, has now been prolonged for another day. This decision comes as mediators work towards securing the release of hostages. Hamas had released 16 more captives from the Gaza Strip the day before the attack.

The truce was initially set to expire on Thursday morning. However, negotiations to extend it came down to the wire due to last-minute disagreements concerning the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for an additional day of ceasefire. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the truce would continue under the same terms as before, with Hamas releasing ten Israeli hostages daily in return for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.

In a press release, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed, “Upon receiving the list of hostages scheduled to be released today (November 30), the families have been notified.”

On the previous day, Hamas had already released ten Israeli women and children, along with four Thai nationals who were subsequently returned to Israel and taken to hospitals. Two Russian-Israeli women were also freed separately. In response, Israel released a group of Palestinian prisoners, as stipulated in the truce agreement.

(With inputs from agencies)

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