10
Loading video...
By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The U.S. State Department said it is "closely monitoring the situation in Jerusalem following this morning's cruel terror attack at the Ramot Junction."
Six people died in the attack after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Monday, September 8, Israeli authorities said. Another 12 people were wounded.
"Our prayers are with the victims and their families," the State Department said in a post on X. "The United States condemns terrorism and stands alongside our friend Israel."
Read More on World
Why It Matters
The shooting comes hours after U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Israel has agreed to the terms he set to end the conflict in Gaza. It is not immediately clear what the new terms presented to Israel and Hamas are.
Incidents such as that at Ramot Junction disrupt attempts to broker a ceasefire and peace. Trump had threatened Hamas with "consequences" in his "last warning" to the militant group unless it agreed to the peace deal on the table.
...
What To Know
Israeli police said the two gunmen began shooting at the busy bus stop around 10:15 a.m. local time.
"In response to the terrorists' attack, a soldier and several civilians at the bus stop engaged the attackers and returned fire," police said in a statement posted to X. "The terrorists were neutralized, and their deaths were confirmed at the scene."
The shooting took place at a major intersection at the northern entrance to Jerusalem, on a road that leads to Jewish settlements located in east Jerusalem.
Video clips posted on social media showed shots ringing out amid busy morning traffic on a main road and security men taking up positions.
Police closed off all entry and exits to the city immediately after the shooting.
Hamas said the attack was carried out by "two Palestinian resistance fighters."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the scene some two hours after the shooting. Netanyahu was supposed to be in court on Monday for his ongoing corruption trial, which was delayed due to the attack.
He warned that Israel is "fighting a war on multiple fronts," including Gaza and the West Bank.
Netanyahu praised the soldier who fired on the gunmen, who was from a newly-formed unit for ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers.
Hundreds of security forces searched for additional attackers or explosives that could have been planted around the area. On Monday afternoon, police said they arrested a resident of east Jerusalem who was connected to the attack.
The Israeli military said it was encircling Palestinian villages on the outskirts of the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah as it steps up defense in response.
The latest attack comes as Israel mounts a fresh offensive into Gaza City.
The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank, with a rise in attacks by Palestinian militants as well as settler violence against Palestinians.
Palestinian militants have attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank, while there has also been a rise in settler violence against Palestinians.
While there have been scattered attacks over the past months in Israel, the last deadly mass shooting attack was in October 2024.
Two Palestinians from the West Bank opened fire on a major boulevard and light rail station in the Tel Aviv area, killing seven people and leaving many others wounded. Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for the attack.
The number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip has now surpassed 64,000, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry, amid continued Israeli military operations and a diplomatic deadlock over ceasefire terms.
What People Are Saying
Hamas said in its statement about the Jerusalem attack: "This operation is a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and the genocide war it is waging against our people, and it sends a clear message that its plans to occupy and destroy Gaza City and desecrate the Al-Aqsa Mosque will not go unpunished."
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social account: "Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end! The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!"
President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, condemned "any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians," and "denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source."
What Happens Next
Monday's shooting is likely to dim any hope for a ceasefire, which would depend on Hamas and Israel agreeing to the terms set in the latest proposal.
Past negotiations have repeatedly stalled on core issues such as the fate of Israeli military forces in Gaza and Hamas' demand to remain armed.
Updated, 9/8/25, 11:14 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines