Jerusalem: A deadly shooting attack rocked Jerusalem on Monday morning when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at commuters waiting at Ramot Junction, a major intersection at the northern entrance to the city. The assault left five civilians dead and at least 12 others injured, several of them in critical condition.
The attack began at around 10:13 a.m. when the assailants, armed with improvised Carlo submachine guns, targeted people at a bus stop and passengers on a crowded bus. Panic spread quickly as gunfire erupted during the busy morning rush hour.
Emergency responders from Magen David Adom rushed to the scene, treating dozens of victims and transporting the seriously injured to nearby hospitals. Four victims were pronounced dead at the site, while a fifth succumbed to injuries later at the hospital.
Authorities identified the attackers as two Palestinians from villages near Ramallah in the West Bank. Security officials confirmed that both men were killed on the spot after being shot by a soldier and an armed civilian who intervened to stop the massacre.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and launched searches in nearby neighborhoods, while the Israel Defense Forces surrounded the attackers’ villages in the West Bank. Security levels across Jerusalem and the surrounding regions were raised to their highest alert.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security meeting with top defense officials following the incident and canceled his scheduled court appearance for the day. Israeli authorities described the shooting as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Jerusalem in recent years.
Hamas praised the assault, calling it a “heroic operation” and encouraging further attacks in the West Bank. Israeli officials condemned the statement, warning that incitement would only fuel further violence amid ongoing conflict with Gaza.
The use of homemade Carlo-style submachine guns highlighted the persistent threat posed by weapons manufactured in clandestine West Bank workshops. Israeli security forces have vowed to intensify crackdowns on such arms production in the aftermath of the attack.
The shooting has deepened concerns over growing instability, with fears that further attacks may follow in the coming days. Security forces remain deployed in large numbers across Jerusalem as investigations continue.