A deadly terror attack took place in Jerusalem on Monday morning around 10 am, taking six lives and injuring 12 more.
The attack happened at Jerusalem’s Ramot Junction, where two gunmen arrived by car and opened fire on civilians waiting at a bus stop and who had just gotten off the bus, along with pedestrians crossing the street.
Dashcam footage showed the harrowing moments of the attack. As shots and sounds of screaming rang out people were seen scrambling to safety between vehicles. A taxi driver was also seen exiting his vehicle to help his passenger, an elderly woman, get out of the seat, even as a bullet flew over their heads and shattered the windshield of a bus behind them. The two escaped unharmed.
The Magen David Adom said four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their wounds after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
The Shin Bet confirmed after Palestinian media reported that the two gunmen were residents of the West Bank, and have been identified as Muthanna Amro from the West Bank village of Qubeia, and Mohammed Taha from the West Bank village of Qatanna. The villages are adjacent to each other and located near Ramallah. The report noted that Amro is a student at Birzeit University near Ramallah, and that his father was arrested within the past few hours. A resident of East Jerusalem was also arrested who was suspected of smuggling in the two gunmen. The East Jerusalem resident has had run-ins with law enforcement in the past for trying to help Palestinians reside in Israel illegally. The attackers allegedly used makeshift “Carlo” submachine guns, or a Carl Gustav, in the attack. The improvised gun is commonly manufactured in the West Bank illegally and has been used to carry out Palestinian attacks in the past.
A Haredi soldier from the new Hasmonean Brigade, the IDF’s new ultra-Orthodox unit, reportedly killed the terrorist, and he was an off duty squad commander.
Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived on scene with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and MK Zvi Sukkot to survey the area. The Prime Minister also entered the number 62 bus that had come under fire.
“A mighty war against terror is taking place on all fronts,” the premier told reporters at the scene. “We are now pursuing and encircling the villages where the terrorists came from.” Ben-Gvir also stirred the pot with his controversial security plan of putting as many licensed guns in the hands of as many civilians as possible, and argued “Weapons save lives.”
Netanyahu had been set to attend a scheduled hearing to testify in his trial, but his lawyers told the court he would not be able to attend due to the attack. His attorney, Noa Milstein, told the court that “several severe security incidents at several scenes with fatalities” required Netanyahu to “participate in a series of consultations, security updates, [and] make urgent decisions.”
Netanyahu later held a situational assessment with the heads of the security establishment, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Ben Gvir also held a situational assessment with deputy police commissioner Avshalom Peled and Jerusalem District commander Amir Arzani, according to Israeli police. Police blocked Route 1 through the Arazim tunnel to eastbound traffic.
The last major terror attack in Jerusalem was in November 2023, where four people were killed and five people were injured by two Palestinian gunmen near the Givat Shaul neighborhood at the main entrance to the city.
The victims have been identified as:
Rabbi Mordechai Steintzag, 79. He immigrated to Israel from the United States decades ago. He was both a cardiologist and the owner of Dr. Mark’s Bakery in Beit Shemesh, a well-known local establishment, according to a notice shared by the bakery.
Sarah Mendelson, 60. A senior leader in the Bnei Akiva youth movement, she managed relations with local authorities in the organization’s treasury. According to Israeli reports, she had been on her way to work at Bnei Akiva’s Jerusalem office when she was killed.
Rabbi Yosef David, 43, was a resident of Jerusalem.
Yisrael Matzner, 28, was also a resident of Jerusalem.
Yaakov Pinto, 25. A resident of Jerusalem who had recently made Aliyah from Spain and was also recently married.
Levi Yitzhak Pash, from Tel Zion, was killed in the attack; his age has not been announced.
The Israel Daily News sends heartfelt condolences to the friends, families and communities of those who knew them.
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