Four people were killed and four other people were wounded in a shooting attack at the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday morning, according to emergency services.
Among those murdered in the attack was Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, who served as a rabbinical judge in the rabbinical court in Ashdod, according to Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli.
Chana Ifergan, 67, the principal of Beis Yaakov Bnot Hadassah in Beit Shemesh, was also killed in the attack. Livia Dickman, 24, of Har Nof, was named as the third victim.
Yuval Doron Castelman from Mevaseret Zion, an attorney who would have turned 39 the day after the attack, was mortally wounded by friendly fire while responding to the incident from the other side of the road. He was hospitalized at Shaarei Tzedek hospital and succumbed to his wounds later in the day.
Two other people were seriously wounded in the attack, and two more were in light to moderate condition.
According to police, two terrorists from east Jerusalem carrying an M16 and a handgun arrived at the Givat Shaul junction near the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday morning and began firing at civilians at a nearby bus stop.
The two terrorists were shot and killed by security forces and a civilian who was at the scene, including an IDF soldier who was heading back to base after being on a break from service in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening ordered the demolition of the terrorists' homes.
Police quickly closed off the scene of the attack and launched searches to ensure there were no other attackers on the loose.
הפיגוע בירושלים | תיעוד רגעי הירי הראשונים; שני מחבלים נוטרלו >>> https://t.co/UQv9sy9q04@VeredPelman pic.twitter.com/omB2pYL6qO
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 30, 2023
Video from the scene showed people running as gunshots were heard in the background.
Two terrorists affiliated with Hamas
The two terrorists were identified as Murad and Ebrahim Nemer, brothers from Sur Baher in east Jerusalem who were affiliated with the Hamas terrorist movement. Murad was imprisoned in Israel from 2010-2020 because of his intention to carry out terrorist operations in Gaza; Ebrahim was imprisoned in 2014 due to terrorist activity.
Hamas announced as well that the two terrorists were part of the terrorist movement, saying that the attack came as "natural response to the occupation’s unprecedented crimes."
A large amount of ammunition was found in the terrorists' vehicle. A few hours after the attack, Israeli police raided the Nemer family's home in Sur Baher, arresting six members of the family, including their siblings and parents.
Highway 1 from the Motsa Junction toward Jerusalem was closed to traffic after the attack, with police directing traffic to Highway 16.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the scene shortly after the attack, saying "This event proves once again how much we must not show weakness; how much we should talk to Hamas only through the gun sight, only through war. My stance about the ceasefire is known: Hamas must not be allowed to speak to us with two voices."
Ben-Gvir added that the attack displayed how important it is to distribute weapons to civilians. "Weapons save lives> We see it time after time: Wherever there are weapons, citizens, policemen, [and] soldiers save lives. And this weapon can save us and it proves itself time and time again."
National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded, saying "This attack is further proof of our commitment to continue the fight with strength and determination against the murderous terrorism that threatens our citizens: in Jerusalem, in Gaza, in the West Bank, and everywhere."
Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I offer my sincere condolences to all those affected.
— Ambassador Jack Lew (@USAmbIsrael) November 30, 2023
US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew condemned the attack on Thursday, posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I offer my sincere condolences to all those affected."
The European Union's Ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev condemned the attack as well, writing "I condemn the terrorist shooting attack in Jerusalem this morning, which killed two [later three] and wounded many other Israelis. Condolences to the loved ones of the victims. Refuah shleimah [complete healing] to the injured. The EU condemns all forms of terrorism and stands with Israel in this difficult time."
Two weeks ago, an IDF soldier was shot and killed and five other Israelis were wounded by a Palestinian terrorist at a security checkpoint on the Bethlehem bypass road south of Jerusalem.
Attack comes a year after bombing at the same bus stop
Last November, two Israelis, Tadasa Tashume Ben Ma’ada and Arye Shechopek, were killed in a double bombing attack that took place at the same bus stop and at another one near the Ramot neighborhood.