Jerusalem was rocked by a deadly shooting attack on September 8, 2025, as two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on commuters during the busy morning rush hour at a major intersection known as Ramot Junction, located at the northern entrance to the city. The attack, which targeted people waiting at a bus stop and later those inside a bus, left six people dead and at least 15 others wounded, including six in serious condition, according to paramedics and Israeli officials cited by The Economic Times and CBC.
Authorities said the attackers arrived by car and unleashed a barrage of bullets, shattering the calm of a city already on edge. The windshield of a nearby bus was riddled with bullet holes, and personal belongings were scattered across the street in the aftermath. Footage from the scene showed dozens of terrified people fleeing from the intersection, which sits on a road leading to Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem—an area annexed by Israel after the 1967 war, a move not recognized by the United Nations or most countries.
Israeli police reported that the two assailants were shot and killed at the scene by a security officer and a civilian, effectively halting the attack before more lives could be lost. A suspect from East Jerusalem was also arrested for alleged involvement, and several firearms, ammunition, and a knife used in the assault were recovered at the site. The area quickly filled with hundreds of security personnel, searching for additional attackers or explosives, as reported by CBC.
The victims of the attack included a 50-year-old man, a woman in her 50s, and three men in their 30s, according to Israel’s ambulance service. Later, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar confirmed that a sixth victim had succumbed to injuries. One of the wounded, Ester Lugasi, recounted her ordeal to Israeli TV from her hospital bed: "Suddenly I hear the shots starting. I felt like I was running for an eternity. I thought I was going to die." Her words captured the terror and chaos of the moment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene soon after, accompanied by Israel’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Netanyahu praised the quick action of the soldier who killed one of the attackers, noting that the soldier belonged to a recently formed unit for ultra-Orthodox soldiers. Addressing the escalating security situation, Netanyahu warned, "We are fighting a war on multiple fronts," referencing ongoing conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and within Israel itself. He later declared, "My directive is to strike hard against terror strongholds," underscoring the government’s intent to retaliate forcefully against militant groups.
The attack comes against the backdrop of nearly two years of war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack killed about 1,200 people and saw another 251 taken hostage in Gaza, according to Israeli figures. Since then, violence has surged not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and inside Israel. According to the United Nations’ humanitarian office, at least 49 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in Israel or the West Bank since the start of the war, while Israeli forces and civilians have killed at least 968 Palestinians in the same period.
The latest attack marks the deadliest mass shooting in Israel since October 2024, when two Palestinians from the West Bank opened fire on a major boulevard and light rail station in Tel Aviv, killing seven people and injuring many more. Hamas’s military wing claimed responsibility for that attack, and this time, the group was quick to praise the gunmen. In a statement released on September 9, 2025, Hamas hailed the Jerusalem attack as “heroic” and claimed responsibility, calling it a "natural response to the occupation's crimes against our people." Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group, also praised the shooting, though neither group initially claimed direct responsibility.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a rare statement condemning "any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians," highlighting the deep divisions within Palestinian leadership over tactics and the ongoing violence. Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir, Israel’s security minister, used the moment to urge Israelis to "arm yourselves," and criticized a recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling regarding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners.
The ripple effects of the Jerusalem attack were felt almost immediately in Gaza. Just hours after the shooting, Netanyahu warned of an "intensified ground maneuver" in Gaza and ordered residents of Gaza City—already devastated by weeks of heavy bombardment—to evacuate immediately. Thousands of leaflets rained down on the city, instructing Palestinians to flee to the al-Mawasi “humanitarian zone” about 20 miles to the south. However, as NBC News reported, the Israeli military has previously struck areas it designated as humanitarian zones, leaving many civilians skeptical about their safety.
The Israeli military has been advancing through Gaza City’s northern suburbs, destroying multiple high-rise buildings it claims were used by Hamas, though evidence has not always been provided. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees stated, "attacks on residential towers in Gaza have displaced dozens of families," leaving many without shelter. Aid groups have warned that the offensive could worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, with hundreds of thousands expected to be displaced by the latest assault.
Jannah Mansour, a 12-year-old girl living in a tent next to one of the destroyed high-rises, told NBC News, "Nothing is left in life. We are finished." Her words echo the despair felt by many Palestinians, most of whom have been uprooted multiple times since the war began. Palestinian health officials estimate that more than 64,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, including thousands of children, as Israeli forces have destroyed or damaged much of the enclave’s infrastructure.
As Israeli forces encircle Palestinian villages near Ramallah and step up defenses in response to the Jerusalem attack, the cycle of violence shows little sign of abating. Both sides continue to suffer devastating losses, and the prospects for peace remain distant as leaders on all sides grapple with the aftermath of the bloodshed.
The events of September 8, 2025, underscore the deepening crisis in the region, with civilians—on both sides—bearing the brunt of a conflict that appears far from resolution.