At least two people were killed and four others wounded when a gunman opened fire at a bustling intersection in central Israel on Friday afternoon, the Israeli authorities said.
Avi Bitton, an Israeli police commander, said that the attack took place at a bus stop near the town of B’nei Re’em at around 12:30 p.m. The gunman was shot by an armed civilian on the scene and appeared to have acted alone, the Israeli police said, calling it an act of terrorism.
Six victims of the attack were taken to hospitals in central Israel where two of them were pronounced dead, according to the Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom.
The Israeli authorities did not formally identify the attacker or comment on his condition. The Israeli news media reported that the gunman was a Palestinian from East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel condemned the attack and extended his condolences to the victims.
“This attack reminds us that the entire country is on the front line,” he said in a statement.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday’s shooting.
Israel has been on high alert since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7. In late November, at least three people were killed when Palestinian gunmen who the Israeli authorities said were affiliated with Hamas’s armed wing opened fire at a Jerusalem bus stop.
On Friday, Hamas praised the shooting near B’nei Re’em and called it “a natural response” to the war that Israel’s military is waging against the armed group in Gaza.
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Israel is fighting a war with both hands tied behind their backs while Hamas is fighting like a Middle Eastern terrorist group does, hiding behind women and children.
@C1v1cDutyGenesisGreen2yrs2Y
More than 65,000 tonnes of bombs have been dropped on Gaza, causing the destruction of over 33% of buildings in Gaza--doesn't strike me as having their hands tied in the least!
The “war” did not kill 24000 civilians - Israel did as a part of its “strategy”.
Honest question: where did the 24,000 number come from? To date I've only seen Gazan civilian death rates given from official Hamas sources (this article doesn't identify any source!). Given official Hamas reporting's historical exaggeration and outright lying (e.g., blown up hospital with 500 dead: I don't think anyone still believes that one?), trusting this 24,000 number, if it does come from them, is foolish. Are Israelis counting Gazan civilian deaths? I can't imagine they are putting much of their energy into such at this point. And yes, they can lie also ... what's the old saw? The first casualty of war is truth?
Anyway, what's your take on the veracity of that 24,000? I'm thinking its no where near that ...
Respectfully
@AlertHouseConstitution2yrs2Y
Actually hamas killed every "civilian" in gaza by hiding behind, under, and on top of them after they murdered actual civilians in Israel.
And falls short because the Biden-Blinken duo assiduously prevent the Israeli Army from applying the same military tactics that the US Army engaged in Iraq and everywhere else - using massive aerial bombing and artillery to clear out the enemy before risking the lives of American ground troops. They also have failed to provide the IDF with certain crucial weapons. Biden and Blinken despite their hollow words about having "Israel's back," essentially are advancing the antisemitic campaign of denying Jews the same right to fight and defend themselves as other every people in the world. Some trustworthy allies they have turned out to be.
They have killed 30k civilians! The IDF is incompetent and are war criminals
The latest number I heard was 25K, of whom roughly 30% were Hamas militants. A kill ratio of 7:3 civilians:fighters is, as I understand, typical in these scenarios. Israel has been restrained by the Biden Administration in their aerial bombardment, and have been forced to put boots on the ground leading to more Israeli deaths.
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