The military wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting that killed seven people and injured 16 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday evening.
The terrorist attack took place on the backdrop of Iran launching at least 180 missiles at Tel Aviv as tensions grow between Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, and Iran.
Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said two of its militants committed the assault, noting that it “coincided” with Iran’s missiles, but didn’t say whether it was a coordinated attack.
Police said two Palestinians, aged 19 and 25 from the West Bank, carried out the attacks. The gunmen boarded the light rail train and opened fire before continuing on foot to attack pedestrians. Both men were “neutralized,” according to Israeli police.
The victims of the terrorist attack include three young women. One of those women was a mother who physically used her body to protect her baby, according to local media.
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A vigil service was held Wednesday evening just hours before sundown and the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. People gathered to light candles in a memorial display in the Jaffa neighborhood of Tel Aviv, which is known for its mixed population of Jews and Arabs, according to Reuters.
“Today, it’s a holiday in Israel, so I [hope] it’s going to be a quiet one. I really hope for peace, so we don’t need to be worried to go out to the street. To go to the train,” said Sraia Harer, a previous resident of the area.