Monday morning in Jerusalem began with chaos and heartbreak as Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop, killing six people and wounding at least a dozen more. The attack, which took place at Ramot Junction on Yigal Street in north Jerusalem, was the deadliest in the city since 2023 and immediately reignited fears of escalating violence amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to Israeli officials, the two attackers arrived by vehicle and targeted a bus stop at one of the city's busiest intersections, just after the morning rush hour. Witnesses described scenes of terror as dozens of people scrambled for safety. The windshield of a nearby bus was riddled with bullet holes, and personal belongings lay scattered across the street. Paramedics from Magen David Adom (MDA) rushed to the area, treating the wounded as broken glass and pools of blood marked the aftermath of the assault.
Israeli police said that a security officer and a civilian at the scene responded quickly, returning fire and killing both gunmen before they could inflict further harm. Several weapons, ammunition, and a knife used by the attackers were later recovered from the scene, according to police statements cited by CNN.
The victims of the attack included three men in their 30s, two men in their 50s, and a woman in her 50s. MDA reported that six people were in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and three sustained mild injuries. Among the wounded was a pregnant woman, officials confirmed. "A painful and difficult morning. Innocent civilians, women, men, and children were brutally murdered and wounded in cold blood on a bus in Jerusalem by vile and evil terrorists," Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote in a social media post, as reported by CBS News. He added, "In the face of this barbarity, we saw extraordinary acts of heroism which prevented even further loss of innocent lives. This shocking attack reminds us once again that we are fighting absolute evil. The world must understand what we are up against, and that terror will never defeat us."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to appear in court for his ongoing corruption trial, canceled his session and promptly traveled to the scene. His office confirmed he was holding a situational assessment with top security officials in response to the attack. Netanyahu later warned, "Israel is fighting a war on multiple fronts," referencing ongoing hostilities in Gaza, the West Bank, and within Israel itself, according to the Associated Press.
Hamas, the group designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, praised the attack but did not claim responsibility. In a statement cited by multiple outlets, Hamas called the shooting "a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and the genocide it is waging against our people." The attack comes amid a surge in violence since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel by Hamas militants. That initial attack left more than 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. Israel's subsequent offensive in Gaza has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers the most reliable available.
Monday's shooting is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence. Data from the United Nations' humanitarian office shows that between the start of the war and July 2025, at least 49 Israelis—including soldiers and police—were killed by Palestinians in Israel or the West Bank. During the same period, Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 968 Palestinians, a figure that includes militants, stone throwers, and uninvolved civilians, according to the Associated Press.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, hundreds of Israeli security forces swarmed the area, searching for additional attackers or explosives that might have been planted nearby. The Israeli military also began encircling Palestinian villages on the outskirts of Ramallah in the West Bank, stepping up defense measures in response to the shooting. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that soldiers were dispatched to cooperate with police in the search for suspects and to strengthen security around Ramallah, as reported by CNN.
The international community reacted swiftly to the attack, with European leaders expressing outrage and condolences. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence, extending sympathy to the victims' families and the Israeli people. Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, urging the implementation of a two-state solution. Belgium's foreign minister Maxime Prevot wrote that "the illegal use of violence both in Israel and in Palestine must cease, to urgently find the way back to peace." Poland's foreign ministry echoed calls for diplomatic efforts toward a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, and Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul described the shooting as a "cowardly" attack, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Similar statements came from the foreign ministers of Serbia, Latvia, and the Czech Republic.
Monday’s attack followed a warning from Israeli security officials to Prime Minister Netanyahu about the potential for "serious escalation" in the West Bank, especially with anticipated Palestinian statehood discussions at the United Nations General Assembly and possible Israeli responses. According to CNN, the security assessment presented to Israeli ministers highlighted that a mix of political developments, economic deterioration in the Palestinian Authority, and government policy could "lead to a serious escalation of the security situation in the West Bank."
Scenes from the aftermath painted a grim picture: ambulances crowded the streets, rescue workers cleared glass and blood, and crowds gathered as security forces cordoned off the area. The bus at the center of the attack had several bullet holes in its windows, and the area was littered with debris. Paramedic Fadi Dekaidek, who was among the first responders, described, "The wounded were lying on the road and sidewalk near a bus stop, some of them unconscious," in a statement provided by MDA and reported by CBS News.
As Israel grapples with the aftermath of this latest tragedy, the cycle of violence shows little sign of abating. The attack at Ramot Junction stands as a stark reminder of the deep divisions and ongoing conflict that continue to shape life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Calls for peace, security, and a political resolution echoed from leaders at home and abroad, but for many in Jerusalem, Monday was simply a day marked by loss and uncertainty.
