Eight Israelis killed in shooting in Jaffa

Tel Aviv/PNN

Six Israelis were killed and nine others injured in a shooting and stabbing attack in the city of Jaffa this evening, Tuesday. Two people believed to have carried out the attack were killed; According to Israeli reports, they were residents of the Hebron area.

Israeli media noted that the shooting occurred at two locations, including the Sderot Yerushalayim light rail station in Jaffa and a synagogue on Gaza Street in Tel Aviv. It later emerged that there were no shots fired at the Gaza Street synagogue; rather, some of the injured were brought there for medical care.

Israeli police said in a press release: “Initial investigations indicate that armed attackers opened fire on the light rail, resulting in several injuries at the scene.” The attackers were neutralized by security forces and some civilians.” Police added, that it “responded to the incident amid rocket fire” as part of a broader attack by Iran against Israel. They called on citizens to “adhere to the instructions of the home front and report suspicious people.”

In a subsequent statement, police confirmed that “the stabbing and shooting incident has so far resulted in the deaths of six civilians and nine additional injuries of varying severity.” They noted that the attackers “started their attack at the light rail and continued on foot.” It was also reported that “they were neutralized with personal weapons by security forces and civilians present at the scene.”

In a statement, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said: “In view of the security situation, this evening I agreed with the police chief to immediately deploy 13,000 volunteers from emergency units across Israel.” Additionally, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: “I “I will now demand at the cabinet meeting that the families of the attackers from Hebron who carried out the serious attack in Jaffa this evening be deported to Gaza and that their houses be reduced to rubble.”

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth website, the attackers are identified as members of Hamas residing in the Hebron area, with Army Radio reporting their names as Muhammad Khalaf Sahr Rajab and Hassan Muhammad Hassan Al-Tamimi.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, the police commissioner said: “We are dealing with a difficult incident. We had no prior information about the attack. We know the identity of the attackers and are addressing the problem in cooperation with the Israeli Security Service (Shabak).”
The Tel Aviv area commander said: “The attackers boarded the train, opened fire inside the train, then got out and fired again on the street. The attackers were neutralized by train guards and the city's rapid response unit along with the police.” Ben Gvir also arrived at the scene and responded to Israeli claims that the attackers came from a mosque in Hebron: “If it is confirmed that there is a connection between the attack and the mosque exists, it should be closed and destroyed.” We need to check this. We will not make a hasty decision.