[ad_1]
Israeli security forces said today they had tracked down and killed a Palestinian who opened fire on a bar in central Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, killing two people and injuring 10 others.
The attack the day before had caused panic scenes in the packed city center.
This was the fourth deadly attack in Israel in three weeks, and comes at a time of heightened tensions over the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Yesterday thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank came to Jerusalem for the first Friday of Ramadan prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque.
It is unclear whether Israel will allow Palestinian worshipers to enter Jerusalem, as similar clashes in the holy city last year sparked the 11-day deadly bombing of Gaza by the Israeli air force.
“We will expand our operations in the face of this wave of terror through attacks, defense and intelligence,” said Israeli Interior Minister Benny Gantz.
Thursday’s attack took place on the crowded grass of central Dizengoff Street that has been the scene of attacks for years. Thursday night is actually the start of the Israeli weekend and people go to bars and restaurants.
Disseminated videos on the network showed dozens of people running in terror through the streets as police searched for the attacker and ordered people to stay inside.
Hundreds of Israeli police officers with specialized units had conducted overnight searches in the crowded residential areas of Tel Aviv.
This morning, authorities said they had found the attacker near a mosque in Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s southern Arab region, and killed him “after a gun battle”.
The attacker was identified as 28-year-old Raad Hazem, a Palestinian from Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.
Police said he appeared to have acted alone and did not belong to militant organizations and had no precedent.
The refugee camp in Jenin has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Palestinians and the Israeli army.
Israeli forces often carry out attacks and arrests in Yen, which is considered a problematic area of Palestinian resistance.
Despite Thursday’s casualties, 13 Israelis have been killed in recent weeks in one of the worst waves of violence in years.
Dozens of Palestinians have meanwhile been killed in recent months by the Israeli army in protests or special operations against organizers of the resistance in the occupied territories.
Prior to the recent attack, as a relief measure, Israel said it would allow women and men over 40 from the West Bank to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for the first Friday of Ramadan. But Thursday’s attack has dampened interest.
The mosque is the third holiest site of the Islamic religion and stands on the hill that is considered sacred by the Jews.
Israel has annexed East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the 1967 war. The movement is not internationally recognized as is the expansion of new Israeli colonies into the occupied territories.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
