Deadly Shooting at Ramot Junction in Jerusalem Leaves Six Dead, Heightens Tensions
Jerusalem, September 8, 2025 – A horrific shooting attack at Ramot Junction in occupied East Jerusalem claimed the lives of six people and left at least 12 others injured on Monday morning, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the city since 2023. The incident, described by Israeli authorities as a “terror attack,” occurred at approximately 10:15 AM local time (08:15 BST) at a busy bus stop near the northern entrance to Jerusalem, disrupting the morning rush hour and sending shockwaves through the region.
The Attack
According to Israeli police, two gunmen, identified as Mohammad Taha, 21, from Qatanna, and Muthanna Amro, 20, from Qubeiba—both villages near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank—arrived by vehicle at Ramot Junction. The assailants opened fire on civilians waiting at a bus stop and boarded a bus on the 62 line, targeting passengers at close range with improvised “Carlo” submachine guns, a type of makeshift firearm commonly produced in Palestinian workshops. The attack left a scene of chaos, with shattered glass, blood, and debris scattered across the area, as reported by Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service.
MDA paramedics described arriving to find victims lying unconscious on the road and sidewalk. Four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center. Among the deceased were Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Pash, a maintenance worker at Kol Torah yeshiva; Rabbi Yosef David, 43, a Ramot resident; Yaakov Pinto, 25, a newly married immigrant from Spain; Yisrael Matzner, 28; Sarah Mendelson, 60; and Rabbi Mordechai Steintzag, 79, owner of Dr. Mark bakery in Beit Shemesh. At least 12 others were wounded, with six in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and three with minor injuries, including a pregnant woman among the casualties. Over 40 others were treated for shock or minor injuries caused by glass shards.
An off-duty soldier from the Hasmonean Brigade, a unit for ultra-Orthodox recruits, along with a Haredi yeshiva student armed with a licensed firearm, returned fire, neutralizing the attackers on the spot. Dashcam footage captured the harrowing moments of the attack, showing civilians scrambling for safety as shots rang out and a taxi driver calmly assisting an elderly passenger amid the chaos.
Immediate Response and Investigation
Israeli security forces swiftly sealed off roads around Jerusalem, establishing checkpoints and closing all access points between East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed troops to encircle Qatanna and Qubeiba, conducting searches for potential accomplices. The Shin Bet security agency identified the attackers, noting they had no prior arrests, and Jerusalem police arrested a suspect from East Jerusalem whose involvement is under investigation. Authorities recovered weapons, ammunition, and a knife at the scene, and police sappers checked for possible explosives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, vowing to “catch everyone who helped” the attackers. “We are in an intense war against terrorism on several fronts,” Netanyahu stated, referencing ongoing conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and against groups like Hezbollah. Ben-Gvir praised the armed civilians and soldier who intervened, reiterating his controversial policy of encouraging civilian gun ownership, stating, “Weapons save lives.” The IDF announced a full closure of the attackers’ villages, with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordering a “determined operational and intelligence effort” to dismantle terror networks.
Political and International Reactions
The attack drew widespread condemnation. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called it a “painful and difficult morning,” describing the victims as “innocent citizens murdered in cold blood.” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking from Hungary, labeled it a “terrible terror attack.” European leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, condemned the violence, with Macron calling for a political solution to end the “spiral of violence” in the region. The UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed horror at the attack, and the Palestinian Authority denounced “all forms of violence and terrorism,” rejecting the targeting of civilians.
Hamas, while not claiming responsibility, praised the attack as a “heroic and unique operation” and a “natural response” to Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also commended the attackers without claiming involvement. Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blamed the Palestinian Authority, calling for its dismantlement and comparing the attackers’ villages to devastated areas in Gaza. The Israeli court system criticized Ben-Gvir for blaming the judiciary for the attack, calling his remarks “regrettable.”
Context and Regional Tensions
The shooting comes amid heightened violence linked to the ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed over 64,522 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict has spilled into the West Bank, where settler violence and Israeli military operations have intensified. Ramot, located in an area occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed—a move deemed illegal under international law—sits near the Green Line, exacerbating tensions due to its proximity to illegal settlements. The attack is the deadliest in Jerusalem since a November 2023 shooting in Givat Shaul, which killed three, and follows a deadly October 2024 attack in Tel Aviv claimed by Hamas.
Palestinian communities in the West Bank braced for retaliatory measures, with journalist Leila Warah reporting from Aida refugee camp that residents were “on edge” awaiting potential collective punishment. The Israeli military’s encirclement of villages and Netanyahu’s pledge to pursue the attackers’ communities have fueled fears of further escalation.
Broader Implications
The timing of the attack coincides with critical developments in the region. The Israeli military intensified operations in Gaza City, and ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S. are underway, with President Donald Trump announcing that Israel has accepted terms for a potential hostage release deal. Hamas, however, insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, complicating negotiations. The Ramot shooting underscores the fragile security situation and the challenges of achieving peace amid ongoing violence.
As Jerusalem mourns, security remains heightened, with funerals for the victims scheduled for later Monday. The city, home to a diverse population including many Orthodox Jews in Ramot, faces the somber task of healing while bracing for potential further unrest. The international community continues to call for de-escalation, but the path to lasting peace remains elusive.
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