What happened at Ramot Junction?
At least six people were killed and more than 20 injured on Monday morning when two gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop in Jerusalem, in what Israeli police described as a suspected terror attack.
The attackers, identified as Muthanna Omar (20) and Muhammad Taha (21) from West Bank villages near Jerusalem, arrived by car and opened fire on commuters with rifles and a knife in their vehicle. Panic erupted as passengers scattered for cover, with eyewitnesses recalling scenes of chaos and blood on the pavements.
Both attackers were killed at the scene by a security officer and a civilian.
Eyewitness accounts
“I saw people falling or getting hurt while trying to escape,” witness Elazar Toledano told Reuters. “Someone suddenly shouted ‘Terror attack!’ and people started running.”
Fadi Dekaidek, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, described the aftermath: “When I first came to the area I saw a lot of people laying down in the street bleeding.”
Among the dead was a Spanish national, confirmed by Spain’s Foreign Ministry. Israeli paramedics reported at least 12 seriously wounded.
Government and military response
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his corruption trial appearance to oversee a “situational assessment.” He vowed to encircle the attackers’ villages, declaring: “We will reach everyone who helped them and who sent them – and we will take even harsher measures.”
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the attack to renew calls for arming more civilians. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of “severe and far-reaching consequences.”
Shortly after the shooting, Israeli forces sealed checkpoints between East Jerusalem and the West Bank and raided nearby villages including Qatana, Biddu, Beit Inan, and Beit Duqu in search of accomplices.
Palestinian reactions
The Palestinian Authority (PA) quickly condemned the shooting, reiterating its stance against targeting civilians. In contrast, Hamas praised the attack as “a natural response to the crimes of the occupation,” while the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, echoed that it was a “legitimate response to Zionist crimes.”
This split highlights the sharp divisions among Palestinians between those advocating armed resistance and those pushing for diplomatic engagement under occupation.
Impact on Gaza and the region
The Jerusalem shooting came as Israel intensified airstrikes on Gaza City. Netanyahu issued a stark warning to residents: “In just two days, we have taken down 50 terror towers — and this is only the beginning… Gaza City residents, you have been warned — get out.”
Observers warn the attack could trigger harsh collective punishment in the West Bank, adding another layer to an already volatile situation marked by Israel’s war on Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank.
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