A Palestinian Hamas member has opened fire on several people in the old town on Sunday. The assailant was shot down by the Israeli police after injuring two policemen.
Le Monde with AFP
A person was killed and three others injured on Sunday, November 21 in the morning in a firearm attack led by a Palestinian Hamas member, in the old town of Jerusalem, announced the Israeli authorities.
“Around 9 hours Local [8 hours, in Paris], an armed terrorist opened fire in the old town of Jerusalem. Two civilians were seriously injured and two slightly injured police officers,” said the police. A journalist from the France-Press agency (AFP) on site has heard burst burst and cries.
In the stride, Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital, where wounded, reported that a 30-year-old had succumbed to his injuries. Just after this attack, rare in the old town of Jerusalem, many policemen have been deployed. The body of the assailant has long remained on the ground before the police confirm his death.
Israeli Public Security Minister Omer Barhev, told television that the assailant was a Palestinian, “Hamas member”, resident of the Shuafat district, in Jerusalem East.
“He was a Hamas member, the political branch, not the armed branch. According to the images we have, it seems that he wore a great Galabeya [traditional dress] or that he had had Disguised as an Orthodox Jew “, in order to conceal his weapon,” said Mr. Barrell on the Israeli chain Kan. “His wife left [the country] three days ago and his son is also abroad (…). It seems that this attack is premeditated,” he added.
In a statement, the direction of Hamas confirmed that the assailant, presented as Fadu Abu Shukhaydam, was a member of the organization, without orderly claiming this attack, which occurs six months, day for the day, after The end of the last war between Hamas and Israel.
“Our martyr in Jerusalem spent his life preaching the jihad (…) This heroic operation is a warning to our enemy and his government so that he ceases to occupy our lands,” reacted Hamas in a statement Since the Gaza Strip, Palestinian enclave under its control.
Prime Minister Bennett calls for vigilance
After this attack, the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, asked “strengthening” the security scheme in Jerusalem and called the population and the police to be “vigilance” at the approach to the party. Jewish of Hanouka, celebrated from November 28th.
On Wednesday, a 16-year-old Palestinian led a knife attack in the old town against the Israeli forces making two wounded before being shot by the police.
Hears had erupted in the evening between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces in the Issawiya district, in Jerusalem East, where the young assailant had originated, had seen a photographer from AFP. Tensions continued in recent days, according to the police and witnesses.
Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel were theater from October 2015 and for months of anti-Israeli attacks most often committed by isolated young Palestinians. These violence have since decreased intensity, but persist sporadically.
Some 200,000 Israelis live in Jerusalem East, where 300,000 Palestinians also live. Israeli colonization, illegal with regard to international law, has continued under all Israeli governments since 1967.