Deadliest Palestinian Attack on Israelis in a Year Triggers Escalation Amid US Ceasefire Proposal
In Jerusalem today, a brutal attack claimed six lives at a busy bus stop. This marks the most significant assault against Israeli civilians by Palestinian gunmen in nearly a year. The violence unfolded shortly after the United States unveiled a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
The incident occurred at a bustling intersection in northern Jerusalem, near roads leading to Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem. Two young Palestinian men, reportedly in their early 20s, are said to have opened fire on a stationary bus, causing panic among the crowd waiting outside. Israeli authorities report that an Israeli soldier and civilian returned fire, killing the gunmen.
The victims included two rabbis and a woman, according to local media reports, with several others sustaining serious gunshot wounds. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Hamas praised the assailants as courageous resistance fighters. The Palestinian Authority’s president, the internationally recognized leader, issued a statement condemning the indiscriminate targeting of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
Israeli forces have since established a security perimeter around villages linked to the attackers in the West Bank region. Israel’s defense minister warned that the attack would lead to far-reaching consequences, hinting at potential military actions beyond those already undertaken during this conflict. Throughout the war in the West Bank, there has been a surge in Israeli military activity, record-high detentions of Palestinians, escalating settler violence, and a severe financial crisis with Israel withholding funds from the Palestinian Authority.
Just prior to the attack, the White House presented a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which suggests that Hamas release all hostages on the first day of a truce and initiate immediate negotiations towards ending the conflict. In return, Israel would halt plans to occupy Gaza City. While Israel has signaled its willingness to consider this proposal, a senior Hamas official has denounced it as a humiliating surrender document, casting doubt on the plan’s success.
Over the past few days, Israeli airstrikes have left several high-rise buildings in ruins across Gaza City. Israel claims these structures were used by Hamas for observation posts or contained explosive devices, and advance warnings were issued prior to the strikes. The aftermath of these bombings has seen tent camps for displaced families destroyed, and NPR’s Anas Baba captured footage showing people buried under clouds of debris and covered in white dust.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has urged Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a potential ground invasion.