Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene of a deadly shooting in Jerusalem on Monday, just hours after authorities described it as a terrorist attack near the city’s entrance. Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that the death toll had risen after one of the wounded succumbed to injuries.

Speaking from Budapest, Saar said, “Many are injured,” and added that a pregnant woman was among them.

According to eyewitnesses, two gunmen opened fire at people waiting at a bus stop near the city border. Israeli security forces quickly responded and killed the attackers. However, their identities remain unknown.

Hamas Comments

Although no group officially claimed responsibility, Hamas released a statement saying it “commends” the attackers. Moreover, the group described the attack as a “natural response” to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

This incident occurred a day after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal from former US President Donald Trump. The war began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Currently, multiple countries are negotiating for the hostages’ release.

Shooting at Ramot Bus Stop

Initially, Israeli authorities reported five deaths and ten injuries in the Ramot neighborhood. Four victims died at the scene, while one later died in hospital. Additionally, five of the injured remain in critical condition, according to Magen David Adom (MDA).

The MDA said they received the first call at 10:13 a.m. on Monday, reporting about 15 casualties at Ramot Junction on Yigal Yadin Street. The dead included a man around 50 and three men in their 30s.

Furthermore, police confirmed the attackers had been “neutralized,” but they did not specify whether the suspects were shot or arrested. They explained that two attackers arrived by car and fired at the bus stop. “In response, a security officer and a civilian returned fire at the attackers, who were subsequently neutralized. Several people were injured and evacuated for medical treatment,” the police said.

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that the attackers used improvised “Carlo” submachine guns. These weapons are often made in illegal workshops in the West Bank and have been used in previous attacks.

Eyewitness Accounts

One witness described the shooting as terrifying. “Gunfire like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The bus was packed, and as soon as it pulled up to the stop, there was shooting. A suspicious man made a phone call, which several people witnessed. While he was on the phone, the terrorists arrived,” she told N12 channel. Consequently, she ran across the street and hid under another bus.

Moreover, first responders said many victims lay unconscious on the road. “When we arrived, we saw people lying on the road, on the sidewalk near the bus stop. There was shattered glass and a lot of chaos. We treated the injured and transported them to hospitals,” said MDA paramedic Nadav Taib.

Paramedic Shlomi Levy added, “With the help of MDA first responders, we evacuated a 70-year-old woman in serious condition. Later, we treated a woman in her 40s with gunshot wounds. She was conscious, stabilized, and sent to the hospital.”