Jerusalem, 30 November, 2023 (TPS) — The three Israelis killed in Thursday morning’s rush hour shooting attack in Jerusalem were identified as a rabbinical judge, a school principal, and a young woman.
Another six people were injured when two Palestinians arrived at a bus stop at the entrance to the city and began opening fire with an M-16 assault rifle and a handgun.
The terrorists were shot and killed by two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian at the scene.
The dead were identified as 73-year-old Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, who was a judge in the rabbinical court in Ashdod, Hanna Ifergan, a 67 year-old principal of a girl’s school in Beit Shemesh, and 24 year-old Livia Dickman of Jerusalem.
The other six victims were evacuated to local hospitals. Three were in serious condition while the others were in light to moderate condition.
The two terrorists were identified as Murad Nemer and his brother, Ibrahim, of eastern Jerusalem. Both were in their 30s, were associated with Hamas, and had previously been imprisoned for terror activities. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said that Murad was jailed from 2010 to 2020 for planning attacks under the direction of terror commanders in Gaza.
Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, said that the attack strengthened Israel’s resolve to continue waging war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“This terror attack is further proof of our obligation to continue to fight with strength and determination against murderous terrorism, which threatens our citizens. In Jerusalem, Gaza, in Judea and Samaria, and everywhere,” said Gantz.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the attack and the quick response underscored the need to ease gun permits. Requests for gun licenses have soared since Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
“This event proves once again how much we must not show weakness, how much we should talk to Hamas only through the intentions, only through the war,” Ben-Gvir said.
“But this event illustrates another thing, how important the policy of distributing weapons is; despite the criticism of all kinds of parties, I will continue this policy of handing out weapons everywhere, both to emergency rooms and to civilians. Weapons save lives, we see it time after time, wherever there are weapons, citizens, policemen, and soldiers, save lives. And this weapon can save us and it proves itself time and time again.”