In the midst of the ongoing war in Gaza, two Israeli police officers have been wounded and a 20-year-old suspected gunman has been killed in a shooting incident in occupied East Jerusalem. Tensions have been rapidly escalating as deadly attacks continue to plague Gaza. The suspected gunman, an armed 20-year-old man from the city’s eastern sector, opened fire at police officers stationed in front of the Shalem police station near the Old City, according to police spokesman Dean Elsdunne. The incident resulted in one officer sustaining serious injuries, while the other was lightly wounded. The AFP news agency reported that its photographer witnessed a deceased individual outside the police station, with numerous officers present in the vicinity.
As the alleged gunman attempted to flee, officers were able to successfully neutralize him at the scene, leading to his death, as confirmed by Elsdunne. Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from West Jerusalem, stated that there was an exchange of gunfire near the police station. She noted that when Israeli police use the term “neutralized,” it typically signifies that the individual has been killed. Since Saturday, at least 33 Palestinians have lost their lives in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank due to violence related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to AFP. The Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to Israeli air strikes and artillery fire, has witnessed over 1,400 Palestinian casualties, while at least 1,300 individuals have died on the Israeli side, based on official figures.
Abdel-Hamid highlighted the widespread anger prevalent in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in response to the ongoing assault on Gaza. She emphasized that the situation presents a significant challenge for the Israeli prime minister and his emergency unity cabinet, as the images of massive explosions in Gaza, located merely an hour-and-a-half drive away, have fueled heightened Palestinian anger. The formation of a unity government in Israel aimed at addressing the ongoing war has further complicated the situation. Abdel-Hamid warned that Thursday’s attack on the police station may potentially trigger reprisal attacks from illegal Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, leading to a vicious circle of violence.
The situation remains highly volatile, with tensions running high as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate. The shooting incident in East Jerusalem serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and the challenges faced by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities in maintaining peace and security in the region. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, calling for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities and a return to dialogue to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict.
