Jerusalem shooting leaves 2 wounded, day after deadly synagogue terror attack

Another terror attack hit Jerusalem on Saturday morning, leaving two people injured, a day after seven people were killed in a similar attack at a synagogue. 

A 13-year-old boy from the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem shot a father and son in the City of David in East Jerusalem. The assailant was shot and “neutralised” on the spot.

Saturday’s attack comes after a 21-year-old Palestinian man shot and killed seven people in the Jewish neighbourhood of Neve Ya’akov in Northeast Jerusalem just after 8:00 PM Israel time on Friday.

Israel Police treated it as a terror attack, saying innocent people were “slaughtered” near the synagogue.

The first two victims on Friday were identified as Eli and Natali Mizrahi, 48 and 45, a couple who were killed when they tried to help some of the victims.

The assailant was identified as 21-year-old Arkham Khairi, a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem, who drove to the scene in his car where he got out and started shooting people.

Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the scene of the attack, calling it “one of the most severe we have known in years. We have decided on several immediate steps that will begin tonight.”

“Our hearts are with the families. I commend the police officers who took action so quickly. We must act with determination and composure. I call on people not to take the law into their own hands,” he added.

The security cabinet is scheduled to meet tonight on Saturday night to discuss further steps. Police arrested 42 people following the attack.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also came to the scene where he spoke to one of the relatives of the victims who broke down crying, asking him to “deal” with it.

“I voted for you,” he said.

Ben-Gvir replied that more civilians should be armed to protect themselves. During his time as opposition lawmaker, Ben-Gvir would show up at almost every terror scene in Israel, screaming at then Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev, accusing him of being directly responsible for the string of terror attacks taking place under his watch.

“This is a serious and complex attack with a large number of victims. One of the worst we’ve seen in years,” Israel’s Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said.

Three people were brought to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, including a 70 year old female in critical condition, a 20 year old male in serious condition, and a 14 year old male in moderate to severe condition, according to MDA.

Two patients conveyed to Shaare Tzedek Hospital, including a 30 year old male in critical condition undergoing resuscitation, and a 60 year old female in moderate condition.

The terror attack comes after rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza overnight in retaliation for an Israeli army raid in Jenin that left nine Palestinians killed, including members of Islamic Jihad and two civilians.

Following the terror attack near the synagogue in East Jerusalem, Palestinians in Gaza and Jenin were seen celebrating, handing out sweets and dancing in the streets.