JERUSALEM – In a brazen assault that has heightened tensions, gunmen opened fire on a bus and a crowd at a busy intersection in north Jerusalem on Monday, killing at least five people and wounding 12 others. The attack, immediately hailed by Hamas as a “natural response,” marks the latest deadly flare-up in the widespread violence stemming from the ongoing war in Gaza.
The shooting targeted a major transportation hub at the northern entrance to Jerusalem, a key artery connecting the city to Jewish settlements in the occupied east. According to Israeli police, the attackers began by shooting at people waiting at a bus stop. Israeli media reported that the assailants then boarded a crowded bus and continued their attack, firing on passengers inside.
The incident triggered a massive security response. Hundreds of Israeli security personnel rushed to the area, locking down the intersection to search for additional attackers and potential explosives. In a immediate repercussion, the Israeli military announced it had encircled Palestinian villages near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank as part of stepped-up security measures following the attack.
The attack underscores how the war in Gaza continues to ignite violence across the region. While Hamas—the militant group governing Gaza—publicly praised the assault, it stopped short of claiming direct responsibility for the operation.
Broader Regional Context
This shooting did not occur in isolation. It comes amidst relentless Israeli military operations across the Palestinian territories.
According to reports, Israeli airstrikes across Gaza since dawn killed at least 21 people and destroyed another high-rise in Gaza City, bringing the number of buildings razed during its campaign to over 50. Simultaneously, Israeli forces continued raids across the occupied West Bank, arresting Palestinians and destroying land and property.
The human cost of the conflict since October 7 remains catastrophic. The figures cited report at least 64,368 Palestinians killed and 162,776 wounded in Gaza, with thousands more feared buried under rubble. This was precipitated by the October 7 attacks on Israel, in which 1,139 people were killed and approximately 200 were taken captive by Hamas.
A Brief History of a Contested City
To understand the perpetual tension in Jerusalem, one must consider the deep historical and national claims of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israeli Narrative
For Jewish people, Jerusalem represents their ancient and eternal capital. The city, specifically the Temple Mount (the site of the biblical First and Second Temples), is the holiest site in Judaism. The modern state of Israel points to thousands of years of Jewish history in the city. After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel annexed East Jerusalem, a move not recognized by most of the international community, and views the entire city as its “unified and eternal capital.” Israeli policy aims to maintain sovereignty over all of Jerusalem, ensuring security for its inhabitants.
The Palestinian Narrative
For Palestinians, East Jerusalem is the heart of their envisioned future state and the capital they seek. The city is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex (Haram al-Sharif), the third holiest site in Islam. Palestinians view Israel’s annexation as illegal and its continued expansion of settlements in East Jerusalem as a direct effort to alter the city’s character, undermining the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. The ongoing occupation is a central grievance and a primary driver of Palestinian resistance.
This clash of national, religious, and historical claims ensures that attacks at a bus stop in Jerusalem are not isolated events, but tragic episodes in a long and painful struggle over identity, land, and sovereignty. The immediate military response in the West Bank indicates a cycle of violence that shows no sign of abating.