8 Jews Wounded in Terror Shooting Near Kosel

YERUSHALAYIM (AP/Hamodia) — A gunman opened fire at a bus near Yerushalayim’s Old City early Sunday, wounding seven Jews in a suspected Palestinian attack that came a week after violence flared up between Israel and terrorists in Gaza, police and medics said.

Two of the victims were in serious condition, including an expectant woman with abdominal injuries and a man with gunshot wounds to the head and neck, according to Israeli hospitals treating them.

The woman underwent an emergency delivery and the child is in very serious condition.

One of the victims is from Williamsburg, and Tehillim is requested for Yehoshua Tzvi be Sarah who is undergoing surgery, and his son Baruch Bendet ben Gittel, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisrael .

The shooting occurred as the bus waited in a parking lot near the Kosel.

The attacker ambushed the Egged bus as the driver was helping a disabled passenger get onto the bus at Maale Hashalom Street via a lift, and opened fire on the passengers. Two passenger were hit, and the shooter then fled to the Tomb of David parking lot where he opened fire at that site as well, wounding several people before fleeing in the direction of the Silwan neighborhood.

Police ordered the worshippers at the Kosel to remain in place due to concerns that the attackers were still in the area. The police have sealed the Old City while they continue the search for the terrorists. Families in the Jewish Quarter have invited stranded tourists into their homes while they await the police to allow them to leave.

Later in the night, the police finally allowed people to leave the Kosel Plaza.

Israeli police said forces were dispatched to the scene to investigate. Israeli security forces also pushed into the nearby Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan pursuing the suspected attacker.

On the Arab social networks, the residents of Silwan who have security cameras were called upon to delete the recordings for fear that the security forces looking for the terrorist who carried out the attack in Yerushalayim will get their hands on them.

The attack in Yerushalayim followed a tense week between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rav of the Kosel, expressed deep shock and pain over the attack.

“I call on the leaders of other religions to strongly condemn the attack. At the Kosel today, tefillos will be dedicated to the healing of all the wounded from last night’s attack.”