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2022 Bnei Brak shootings

Coordinates: 32°05′38″N 34°50′09″E / 32.09389°N 34.83583°E / 32.09389; 34.83583
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2022 Bnei Brak attack
Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The attack scene
2022 Bnei Brak shootings is located in Central Israel
2022 Bnei Brak shootings
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The attack site
LocationBnei Brak, Tel Aviv District, Israel
Coordinates32°05′38″N 34°50′09″E / 32.09389°N 34.83583°E / 32.09389; 34.83583
Date29 March 2022 (2022-03-29)
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths5 (+1 assailant)
AssailantDiaa Hamarsheh

On 29 March 2022, a series of shootings[1] took place in Bnei Brak, Israel.[2] Diaa Hamarsheh, a 26-year-old Palestinian from Ya'bad, killed five people.[3]

Events

The attacker infiltrated into Israel by using an agricultural crossing of the Israeli barrier meant for Palestinian farmers to access fields on the other side of the border fence.[4] The attack started at around 8:00 PM local time when Hamarsheh began firing at apartment balconies. The gunman then switched to targeting passersby on HaShnaim street, killing two pedestrians at a grocery store and a car driver.[5][6] Hamarsheh tried to shoot another resident but the gun jammed.[7]

He then left for Herzl street where he saw 29-year-old rabbi Avishai Yehezkel, who was taking his two-year-old baby in a baby stroller on a walk. Hamarsheh opened fire at Yehezkel, killing him.[8] Hamarsheh engaged in a gun battle with two police officers who were called in to confront him, leading to the terrorist's death. An officer was brought to Rabin Medical Center where he died from his injuries.[9][6]

The attack came shortly after a man killed four people in Beersheba and two Islamic State terrorists killed two police officers and targeted civilians in a shooting attack in Hadera.[10] The three attacks killed 11 people in total, making it the deadliest week of terrorism in the country since 2006, at the end of the Second Intifada. The Bnei Brak shootings are also the deadliest single terror attack in Israel since the 2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack.[11]

Assailant

The assailant was identified by police as a Palestinian from Ya'bad,[12][13] a 26-year-old named Diaa Hamarsheh.[3] According to the Jerusalem Post, he was a Fatah affiliate who had been imprisoned in 2015 for charges of supporting terrorism as well as arms trafficking.[5] The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.[14]

In 2011, Hamarsheh had made plans to commit a suicide bombing and established contact with officials from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad for assistance. The plan fell apart after a defected PIJ operative called the police on Hamarsheh.[15]

Hamarsheh's family, which traditionally has worked in the tobacco industry, was described by courts as "law-abiding" and family members expressed their shock at the attack. Hamarsheh's father said that he had last seen his son during lunchtime, a few hours before the shootings.[15]

Aftermath

As the results of the attack became known on Israeli TV, multiple videos showing celebrations at Jenin near the terrorist's home village of Ya'abad were posted on social media. These were later documented and distributed on the Israeli media.[16]

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett released a statement condemning the attack and announced increased security measures over the following days.[1]

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine both congratulated the attack.[13]

Neil Wigan and Dimiter Tzantchev, the British and European Union ambassadors to Israel respectively, were the first foreign representatives to condemn the killings.[17]

President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas said that "the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians only leads the situation to deteriorate" in an official statement.[18] French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack and said his thoughts were "with the victims and their loved ones".[19] Abdullah II of Jordan issued a condemnation the following day.[20]

The Ukrainian embassy in Israel confirmed reports that the two pedestrians killed at the grocery store were Ukrainian nationals, and urged for "the upscale of violence and terrorism ... [to] be stopped."[21] The Jerusalem Post wrote that the attack acquired "a boost of international solidarity" for Israel,[22] with denouncements of the attack coming from the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv,[23] the Indian ministries of Defence and External Affairs,[24] United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres,[25] Japan,[26] and Egypt.[27]

In Beirut, Lebanon, supporters of Hezbollah celebrated on the streets and candies were handed out in celebration for the attack in Bnei Brak.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kingsley, Patrick; Sobelman, Gabby (29 March 2022). "Palestinian Gunman Kills 4 in Israel's Fifth Attack in Recent Days". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  2. ^ "PM vows Israel will defeat 'terrorist wave' after attack leaves 5 dead in central Israel". Israel Hayom. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Five killed by Palestinian gunman in latest deadly attack in Israel". BBC. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  4. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (1 April 2022). "IDF chief visits section of security barrier where Bnei Brak terrorist crossed into Israel". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b Breuer, Eliav (29 March 2022). "Five killed in Bnei Brak shooting". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b "After string of deadly attacks, Bennett says Israel at start of 'challenging period'". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  7. ^ Amichay, Rami; Heller, Jeffrey (29 March 2022). "Suspected Arab gunman kills at least 4 people in Tel Aviv suburb -Israeli TV". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  8. ^ Elbaz-Alush, Korin; Rubinstein, Roi (30 March 2022). "'You were a Jewish hero': Rabbi killed in Bnei Brak attack laid to rest". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. ^ Julian, Hana Levi (29 March 2022). "5 Dead in Bnei Brak Terrorist Drive-By Shooting Attack". The Jewish Press. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Israël : au moins cinq morts dans des attaques près de Tel-Aviv, selon les secouristes". LEFIGARO (in French). 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  11. ^ Ari Gross, Judah (30 March 2022). "Israeli security services struggle to stop deadliest terror wave since 2nd Intifada". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Police confirm Bnei Brak shootings as a terror attack". The Times of Israel. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b Boxerman, Aaron (29 March 2022). "Palestinian terror groups hail Bnei Brak attack, avoid taking responsibility". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  14. ^ Gold, Hadas; Salman, Abeer; Dahman, Ibrahim (30 March 2022). "Five people shot dead near Tel Aviv, the third attack in Israel in a week". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b Boxerman, Aaron (30 March 2022). "Bnei Brak terrorist served prison time after planning to carry out suicide bombing". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  16. ^ (Hebrew, with Videos in Arabic) "The Shahid Hero": The Attack in Bnei Brak was celebrated in Jenin Archived 8 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Assaf Gibbor, Makor Rishon, March 30, 2022
  17. ^ "EU, UK envoys condemn Bnei Brak terror attack". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  18. ^ Boxerman, Aaron. "Breaking silence, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas condemns Bnei Brak terror attack". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Macron says France stands with Israel against 'scourge' of terror". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  20. ^ Boxerman, Aaron (30 March 2022). "Hosting Herzog, Jordan's king condemns Bnei Brak attack: 'Every life matters'". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  21. ^ "2 Ukrainian nationals among Bnei Brak dead; embassy decries 'heinous' attack". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  22. ^ Lazaroff, Tovah; Nahmias, Omri (30 March 2022). "From the US to Turkey, world stands united with Israel against terror". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  23. ^ Lazaroff, Tovah; Nahmias, Omri (30 March 2022). "Turkey condemns deadly Bnei Brak terror attack". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  24. ^ "India condemns terror attacks in Israel, expresses condolences". Hindustan Times. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Israel Mourns 5 Killed by Palestinian; Bennett Warns of Terror 'Wave'". VOA. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Japan condemns Palestinian 'terrorist' attacks in Israel". Arab News. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  27. ^ Osmo, Liad (30 March 2022). "Egypt condemns Bnei Brak terror attack". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Hezbollah supporters celebrate Bnei Brak terror attack". The Times of Israel. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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