A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a bus carrying Jewish worshippers in the Old City near King David’s Tomb near the Western Wall.
Two of the victims sustained severe wounds and the others were in moderate condition in the early hours of Sunday, as Jews were leaving the area after performing prayers at the holy site marking the end of the Sabbath.
In addition, a baby is in serious but stable condition after being delivered in an emergency C-section following the shooting of the mother in her abdomen.
Four of the those shot in the pre-dawn attack on Ma’ale HaShalom Street near the Zion Gate were members of the same family visiting from Williamsburg, New York.
“We condemn terror and stand with the Israeli people as they seek peace,” tweeted New York Governor Kathy Hochul, emphasizing that “I’m horrified by the terror attack in Jerusalem, and by the news that a family of New Yorkers has been impacted.”
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides also issued a statement on Twitter expressing deep sadness, writing that he “strongly condemn[s] the terrorist attack outside the Old City of Jerusalem” and that he is “praying for a quick recovery for all of the innocent victims.”
Israeli security forces were at the scene within minutes and were engaged in pursuit all night, in cooperation with the Israeli Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet). Israel National Counter-Terrorism Unit and police forces.
Following an all-night manhunt, assailant Amir Sidawi surrendered to Israeli security authorities Sunday morning. The Arab resident of Jerusalem, who was still in possession of the weapon, has a criminal past. He has no known terrorist affiliation.
The Western Wall, located the Temple Mount in the Old City, is considered by the Jewish People as the holiest site in the world. The holy site is also revered to Christians; and regarded as Islam’s third most sacred site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Israel regards the entirety of of Jerusalem as its eternal capital and the center of the Jewish faith, while Palestinians demand that the city serve as capital of their aspired-future state.
Following an assessment on the situation with Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev and Police Commissioner Yaakov “Kobi” Shabtai, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that security in the Jerusalem District will be significantly reinforced.
“There is one conclusion from this incident, as from previous incidents: Whoever harms Israeli citizens has nowhere to hide. We will pursue them, find them wherever they are, and deal with them to the fullest extent of the law,” stressed the Israeli leader.
He went on to affirm that “Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is safe, strong and open to tourists and residents alike” as “police and the IDF are working to restore the quiet and the feeling of safety in the city.”
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion proclaimed that the city “is stronger than any event and we will not allow any terrorist to harm the routine of life in the public space. The capital of Israel will continue to be a city full of life, happy and vibrant.”
The last terror attack in the city was last month when a Palestinian stabbed a Jewish man in his 40s aboard a public bus near the Ramot Junction.
The Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror groups in Gaza welcomed news of the latest violence as an “heroic operation” and called on Palestinians to carry out more attacks against Israel.
The ‘courageous act of resistance’ was “a natural response to the occupation and the settlers and their daily crimes against [Palestinians],” said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, pledging that, Israeli security measures in Jerusalem will not weaken the Palestinians’ resolve or break their will but will “constitute the greatest motivation for the resistance to escalate and develop the tools of resistance” against Israel.
Hamas official Yassin Rabi’a said the attack proves that Jerusalem belongs to the Palestinians.
“Jerusalem will remain ours, and we will continue to fight until the liberation of our land, notwithstanding the cost and sacrifices,” he threatened.
PIJ Spokesman Tareq Ezzadin said the attack came in the context of the “continuing resistance” against Israel.
“The Jerusalem operation confirms that the occupation has no place on our land, and it will not feel safe as long as the resistance continues,” he said. “The occupation must pay the price for its continuing crimes against our people, from Gaza to Jenin and Nablus.”
Ezzadin hailed the timing of the attack, pointing out that it came just one week after the Operation Breaking Dawn conflict between Israel and the PIJ, in the worst outbreak of hostilities in more than a year.
The PLO’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group also claimed that the the Jerusalem attack confirms that “the resistance of our people continues in all forms and throughout the occupied Palestinian land” and “as a natural response from our people to the escalating crimes of the occupation.”
Other Palestinian terrorist groups said the attack dealt a “severe blow” to the Israeli security apparatus and vowed to increase further terrorist attacks in the future.
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland denounced the attack and wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
“It is deplorable that Palestinian factions continue to glorify such attacks, which undermine the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis,” he wrote in a Twitter message, adding, “I urge all to condemn violence and stand up to terror.”
HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?
The Palestinians are often framed as downtrodden and oppressed by the nation of Israel and its military. However, stories like the one reported above, and countless others, demonstrate the reality that Palestinian objectives are far more sinister than gaining peace and land. Terrorism and the eradication of Israel is their stated goal.
Despite this, activists, media, college campuses, companies, congress members, and the current US Administration glorify the “plight” of the Palestinians and effectively help to drive the Palestinian propaganda machine.
Hal Lindsey, in an article discussing Palestinian terrorist organizations, like Hamas, stated that although many anti-Israel politicians in the United States “almost always say they are standing with Palestinians,” and not their terror groups, making such a statement, he insisted, is “like coming out against the United States in World War II, claiming you only support Germans, not Nazis.”
A poll released last September revealed that the vast majority of Palestinians are supporters of the terrorist organization Hamas and the PLO.
The stated goal of these anti-semitic terror organizations, Lindsey explained, is the “eradication” of Israel and Jews.
“The Hamas charter depicts Jews using old stereotypes,” Lindsey described. “Article 22 blames the Jews for World Wars I and II, as well as the French and communist revolutions. This illustrates yet again that their hatred is not for Israel alone, but for Jews generally. Article 7 says, ‘The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’”
The irrationality with which many have despised the Jews is often puzzling to those who may be unfamiliar with God’s Word. Why has antisemitism flourished throughout history? Why are unsubstantiated and wicked accusations about Israel and the Jewish people often quickly accepted?
This madness can only be understood through the lens of Scripture.
Through the Jewish people, God brought the law, giving His creation an understanding of sin, and subsequently, through the Jewish people, God provided humanity a Savior from that sin, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:4-5, 7:7, 10:4, 3:1-2, Matt. 5:17).
The Jewish people and the nation of Israel are interwoven within God’s plan for all mankind, beginning to end. They are, by God’s mercy, the chosen people used to bring about His perfect will and salvation (Luke 2:25-32). It is for this reason that a battle, which is spiritual in nature, is constantly being waged against Israel and the Jews (Eph. 6:12). Satan detests the people through whom God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who will ultimately defeat him and his followers (Revelation 20:10).
