The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation announced that 3 people were wounded in a shooting, Thursday evening, on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv, and the perpetrator of the operation was martyred, while the “Islamic Resistance Movement” (Hamas) described the operation as heroic, according to Al-Jazeera website.
The Israeli police said that one of the injured was in serious condition, while two others sustained moderate and minor injuries, and added that an investigation is continuing regarding the presence of another suspect at the shooting site.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on what happened by saying: “Tough operation tonight in Tel Aviv” adding from Rome where he leads a visit “A difficult operation tonight, but it will not weaken our resolve”.
In turn, said the leader of the opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid “A difficult evening in Tel Aviv, an attack in the heart of an entertainment district, terrorism must be dealt with harshly and without hesitation”.
For his part, the mayor of Tel Aviv said that the operation had a national background, calling on the Israelis to stop the popular protests immediately after the shooting.
In the first Palestinian reactions, Hamas described the operation as heroic, and the movement’s spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said it was a natural response to the occupation’s crimes.
Qasim added “All Zionist security measures collapse today in front of this heroic process” He added that the shooting came in response to the assassination of 3 Hamas fighters in Nablus.
For his part, said spokesman for the Islamic Jihad Movement, Tariq Ezz El-Din “We congratulate the commando operation, and we consider it a consolidation of the right of our people to resist the occupation”.
Ezzedine added “The commando operation this evening destroyed the Zionist security system and dealt a blow to it in the Zionist depth, confirming the ability and vitality of the resistance to continue reaching the enemy wherever it is.”
The shooting comes in light of the continuous Israeli escalation in the West Bank, and at a time when Israel is witnessing demonstrations against the government’s plan to reduce the powers of the judiciary.
