Hamas terrorist groups and Islamic Jihad on Monday praised a heroic Palestinian attack near Jerusalem’s central bus station that left two Israelis moderately wounded and said a recent increase in attacks was motivated by strong feelings generated in Palestinian society by the escape of six security prisoners.
“The escalation of stabbings in occupied Jerusalem, the shootings, the growing clashes of popular anger in the West Bank and the demonstrations in Gaza, are part of the revolt of freedom initiated by our Palestinian people in solidarity with the heroics prisoners arrogance of the occupation against them, “Hamas spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou said.
“Maintaining the clash with the Zionist occupation and increasing the pace of operations by various means is the best option to tackle the Zionist occupation,” he said.
“Acts of resistance are the legitimate right of the Palestinian people and we bless and support this jihadist act,” said Daoud Shehab, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad.
Tensions have spread across the West Bank over the past week, following the dramatic escape of Palestinian prisoners from Gilboa High Security Prison last Monday. Four of the six detainees were recovered by police over the weekend, but two remain at large and security officials believe they may be hiding in the West Bank and receiving assistance from Palestinians there.
Among Palestinians, fugitives have been widely regarded as “heroes” who managed to free themselves from multiple life sentences. In the Gaza Strip, as well as in the West Bank, Palestinians organized joyful settlements and meetings to celebrate the breaking of the prison.
A protester hoists a Palestinian flag and chants slogans alongside burning tires during clashes with Israeli troops after a demonstration supporting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons at the entrance to the West Bank city of Nablus on September 13, 2021. (Photo AP / Nasser Nasser)
News of the capture of four of the fugitives sparked several violent protests and a rain of bitter posts on social media expressing disappointment and shock.
There has been an increase in the number of violent incidents since the escape.
Monday’s attack, during which an alleged terrorist stabbed two people outside Jerusalem’s central bus station before being killed by a police officer, came hours after an attempted attack on West Bank, in which a Palestinian tried to stab two IDF soldiers hitchhiking station, but was shot before it could cause damage.
On Sunday, heavy gunfire was heard in the Jenin region of the northern West Bank as Israeli security forces were attacked during the hunt for the two remaining fugitive prisoners.
On Sunday night, terrorists from the Gaza Strip fired two rockets at Israel, which were intercepted by the Gaza Strip, marking a third consecutive night of rockets from Gaza.
Separately, on Friday afternoon, an assailant was shot while trying to stab police officers in the old city of Jerusalem and later died from his injuries, police and hospital officials said. .
An Israeli doctor pulled an injured Palestinian, who stabbed two Israelis in Jerusalem on September 13, 2021. (Menahem KAHANA / AFP)
Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman confirmed the escapes had inspired more violence. “There’s no doubt there’s a climb,” he said.
“He pushed him and I shot him four times”
On Monday, in the attack on the Jerusalem bus station, two men were moderately injured and were taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The hospital said the two were in stable condition and had suffered stab wounds to the upper body.
The two stabbed victims were ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
One of the wounded, Meir Navon, described the attack on Ynet.
Navon said he and a friend had entered a pharmacy when the suspect came in and asked one of the workers for a drink. He then pulled out a knife and attacked them.
“He pulled out a meat knife, not very big, and stabbed my friend five times,” Navon said. “Then he came to me and managed to stab me in the back. I ran to the store and he grabbed me by the suit and tried to stab me in the neck, head and back ”.
People gather around a trail of blood at the scene of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem on September 13, 2021. (Menahem KAHANA / AFP)
“I said to myself, I have to defend myself, I grabbed his throat and we fell to the ground together, where I grabbed his hand so he couldn’t stab me anymore.”
The suspect was killed and “neutralized” by a border police officer.
Turgeman said the suspect, whom he identified as a 17-year-old Palestinian from the Hebron area, was in serious condition. The assailant was named in the media as Basil Shawamra, a resident of the city of Deir al-Asal al-Fauqa, near Hebron. at the south of the West Bank.
Tourgeman added that police arrested two people near the bus station on suspicion of assisting the assailant and were looking for others.
A knife used in a stabbing attack on the Jerusalem bus station on September 13, 2021. (Israel Police)
Speaking to Ynet, unnamed police described the incident.
“We saw crowds coming out, shouting,” he said. “I saw the terrorist fighting with a civilian, knife in hand.”
“A member of our patrol shot him with a bullet, but he continued to fight. I told them not to shoot again for fear of a friendly fire incident, “he said.” I called the civilian to get him out, he threw him and I shot him four times. “
Public Security Minister Omer Barlev welcomed the officers’ response.
“Congratulations to the Border Police patrol that successfully stopped the attack on Jerusalem Central Bus Station,” Barlev wrote on Twitter. “A heroine who bravely fought for contact with the terrorist and handled the situation with professionalism, speed and sharpness.”