A peaceful morning in Jerusalem was shattered by a deadly terrorist attack at a bus stop, resulting in the tragic loss of three lives and leaving six others wounded. The perpetrators, identified as brothers Murad Namr, aged 38, and Ibrahim Namr, aged 30, were known members of the extremist group Hamas. They emerged from their vehicle and opened fire at the bus stop at approximately 7:40 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Victims and Emergency Response

Among the victims were Livia Dickman, a young 24-year-old woman; Elimelech Wasserman, a respected 73-year-old judge; and Hannah Ifergan, a woman in her 60s. In a swift response to the act of terror, two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian present at the scene retaliated, successfully neutralizing the assailants.

Terrorist Affiliation and Immediate Aftermath

Following the attack, the assailants were quickly identified as Hamas members, an extremist Islamic movement that has taken responsibility for numerous acts of violence. A subsequent search of the terrorists’ vehicle uncovered a significant amount of ammunition. Jerusalem’s ambulance services promptly transported the injured victims to nearby hospitals, while the police initiated thorough searches in the vicinity to ensure the safety of the area and eliminate the possibility of additional attackers.

The Broader Context

This terrorist attack occurs in the context of an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which had recently experienced an extended period of ceasefire. Hamas, in violation of this operational pause, launched an attack on Israeli territory, marking the first such incident since November 24 when the truce was initiated. The attack, labeled by Hamas as an “escalation of resistance” against Israel, is perceived as a retaliatory act in response to alleged killings of women and children. Consequently, this incident has cast a somber shadow over the truce, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.