Hamas has officially stated its involvement in the recent shooting incident in Jerusalem, which resulted in the death of three individuals

Hamas has announced its involvement in a shooting in Jerusalem that resulted in three fatalities, occurring shortly after a ceasefire extension between Israel and the Gaza Strip’s ruling Islamist group.

Jerusalem police reported that the shooters, originating from annexed east Jerusalem, were neutralized at the scene near a western city bus stop, an area without entry checkpoints.

Jerusalem Police Chief Doron Torgeman described the event: “Two assailants approached in a vehicle, one armed with an M-16, the other with a pistol, and opened fire.”

These assailants were eliminated post-attack by two off-duty Israeli army soldiers and a civilian. Police disclosed, “The assailants’ car contained additional ammunition and weapons.”

The deceased were identified by police as 73-year-old Rabbi Elimelech Waserman, Hana Ifergan, 67, and Livia Dikman, 24.

Hamas’ later statement justifying the attack cited it as a reaction to “the occupier’s grave offenses in the Gaza Strip and against children in Jenin” of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, referred to the incident as indicative of the “ongoing battle against terror groups, particularly Hamas.”

Blinken also remarked on the constant threat faced by Israelis.

The attackers, brothers Murad Nemr, 38, and Ibrahim Nemr, 30, were identified by Hamas as its armed wing members from east Jerusalem, previously imprisoned by Israel.

Social media and Israeli TV footage depicted two men exiting a white car and firing at bus passengers, followed by armed intervention from security personnel and bystanders. The authenticity of the footage was not immediately confirmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging the prompt response of the off-duty soldiers and civilians, stated it prevented a larger scale attack and pledged to increase weapon distribution to citizens.

Concurrently, a ramming attack slightly injured two Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint. The army reported neutralizing the attacker and hospitalizing the soldiers, with ongoing searches for additional suspects.

This surge in West Bank violence follows the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel and Israel’s subsequent actions in Gaza.

An Israeli soldier was recently killed in a West Bank checkpoint shooting, with five other security personnel injured. The assailants, who were shot dead by police, were also linked to Hamas’ Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.