The attack, which police described as a “terrorist incident”, raised fears of an escalation in violence after months of tension in the West Bank
At least seven people were killed and 10 others wounded on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Friday night when a gunman opened fire outside a synagogue, in an attack that heightened fears of escalating violence in the Middle East, a day after the deadliest operation in of the Israeli army in the West Bank for years.
According to police, the attacker arrived around 8:15 p.m. local time and opened fire outside the synagogue, before he himself was shot dead by police. In the footage broadcast by television, many of the victims can be seen lying on the street outside the synagogue and rescuers trying to give them first aid.
A gunman killed at least seven people in a synagogue on the outskirts of Jerusalem in an attack that heightened fears of a spiral in violence, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in the West Bank in years https://t.co/zBjobarGAu pic.twitter.com/judmFODf3m
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 28, 2023
The attack, which police described as a “terrorist incident,” raised fears of an escalation in violence after months of tension in the West Bank that culminated in Thursday’s raid in Jenin that killed at least nine Palestinians.
According to Israeli media, the gunman was a 21-year-old Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem who was shot and killed by police when he tried to flee in a car. This information has not been confirmed by official sources.
“This is one of the worst attacks in recent years” against Israelis, the police chief told Israeli television. Kobe Sabtai.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack on the synagogue, which occurred as worshipers attended a ceremony to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
A spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, however linked the attack to the events in Jenin. The smaller Islamic Jihad group also praised the attack, without claiming responsibility.
International condemnation of the attack
Today’s attack on the synagogue comes just twenty-four hours before the scheduled visit of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Egypt, Israel and the West Bank. The State Department issued a statement condemning the attack, saying there was no change in Blinken’s schedule.
Condemn UN – Britain and United Arab Emirates
“We strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attack that took place tonight at a Jerusalem synagogue and are shocked by the loss of life. The attack, tragically, occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when the world commemorates those lost in the Holocaust,” White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said.
The attack, which coincided with International Day, was also condemned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley and the United Arab Emirates. Guterres noted that he was “deeply concerned” about the escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and asked everyone to “exercise maximum restraint.”
Contact Biden – Netanyahu
Joe Biden spoke by phone yesterday, Friday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assure him of US support after the attack on a synagogue in East Jerusalem, which the US president called “an attack on the civilized world”.
During their phone conversation, which took place after this “horrific terrorist attack”, as he described it, which killed 7 people and injured 10 yesterday, Biden recalled “the unwavering commitment of the United States to the security of Israel” and offered all “appropriate means of support”, a statement from the White House clarified.
The US Secretary of State condemns the attack on the Jerusalem synagogue
The head of American diplomacy, Anthony Blinken, condemned the attack by a Palestinian gunman on a synagogue in a suburb of Jerusalem, which resulted in the death of seven people and the wounding of three others.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack,” said Mr. Blinken, who is expected to travel to the Middle East soon, according to a press release issued by his office.
“We are in close contact with our Israeli partners and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” the US secretary of state added.
Condemnation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses Greece’s unequivocal condemnation of the “horrific attack” that took place in the synagogue of Neve Yaakov during World Holocaust Remembrance Day, in a post on Twitter. He also emphasizes that such terrorist acts targeting civilians in places of worship are unacceptable and expresses his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
