Gunmen opened fire at bus stop and near settlement
Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for a shooting attack in Jerusalem that left at least six people dead on Monday.
In a statement released Tuesday, the group identified the attackers as Muthanna Naji Omar and Mohammed Bassam Taha, saying the assault was carried out “in response to the occupation’s ongoing actions against the Palestinian people.”
Both men were killed on the scene during a shootout with Israeli forces.
What happened in Jerusalem?
According to Israeli police, the attackers opened fire at a bus stop and then at a moving bus near Ramot Junction, close to the Ramot settlement in East Jerusalem.
Security forces and an armed civilian returned fire, neutralizing the assailants.
The shooting took place amid escalating violence in the region, as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza.
Conflict background: Gaza under fire
Since October 7, 2023, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 64,000 Palestinians killed and tens of thousands injured, with extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
Aid agencies are warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis, with health services collapsing and living conditions deteriorating under sustained Israeli bombardment.
What could come next?
Analysts say the Jerusalem shooting could prompt tougher Israeli security measures in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and potentially more attacks from Palestinian militant groups.
The international community continues to call for de-escalation, but the situation remains highly volatile.
