2017 Jerusalem truck attack

Last updated

2017 Jerusalem truck attack
Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict [1]
2017 Jerusalem truck attack.jpg
The attack aftermath
Israel outline jerusalem.png
Red pog.svg
The attack site
LocationEast Talpiot, East Jerusalem
Coordinates 31°45′16″N35°13′53″E / 31.754414°N 35.231492°E / 31.754414; 35.231492
Date8 January 2017;7 years ago (2017-01-08)
13:00 (UTC+2)
Attack type
Vehicular assault
Weapons Semi-trailer truck
Deaths4 (1+ attacker) [2]
Injured17 [3]
AssailantFadi al-Qanbar

A vehicle-ramming attack occurred in Jerusalem on 8 January 2017. A truck driven by an Arab citizen of Israel plowed into a group of uniformed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers disembarking from a bus on the Armon Hanatziv Esplanade in East Jerusalem's East Talpiot neighborhood, close to the Trotner park and UNTSO headquarters, killing four and injuring 15.

Contents

Just hours after the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for the attack, raising questions about how he came to that conclusion. [4] Opponents criticized the Israeli Government for downplaying the political side. [5] Later, the attack was claimed by an unknown Palestinian group called "The Martyr of Baha Alyan Collective", citing political motives. [6] The attack was condemned by the United Nations, European Union, the United States and others. [7]

Attack

The truck involved in the attack Truck used in 2017 Jerusalem truck attack.jpg
The truck involved in the attack

At around 13:00, a truck rammed into a group of IDF soldiers at a promenade in the East Talpiot neighborhood in southeast Jerusalem. One male and three female soldiers were killed and 15 soldiers were injured. Of those injured, two were in critical condition after the attack. [8] The attacker was shot dead by several of the soldiers and their civilian tour guide. [9] Israeli officials describe the attack to be an "act of terrorism". [10] [11]

Initial reports, including an account by the civilian tour guide who used his personal handgun to shoot at the driver, alleged that one of the soldiers hesitated before shooting, possibly as a result of the manslaughter conviction earlier in the month of Sgt. Elor Azaria, who had killed an incapacitated Palestinian assailant. [12] [13] Despite this report, the IDF reported that at least two soldiers fired at the attacker, and denied a connection between troops' response to Azaria case. [13] [14] One of the cadets at the scene is quoted as saying that they fought for their friends and "Nobody was scared to shoot for even one minute". [15]

Victims

The four fatalities were IDF soldiers studying in the Haim Laskov officers school: three cadets and an officer. [16]

These ranks reflect their posthumous promotions. [17]

Perpetrator

A 28-year-old [18] Arab Israeli man from Jabel Mukaber [19] in East Jerusalem [20] driving a car with an Israeli license plate. Nana 10 reported that he had served time in jail in the past, [21] and Walla! reported he had Israeli citizenship. [22]

Prime Minister Netanyahu blamed ISIL soon after the attack stating "all signs show he is a supporter of the Islamic State". The claims made by him just hours after the attack raised questions to how he came to that conclusion. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also drew parallels with ISIL attacks in Germany and France. Opponents accused the Israeli government of downplaying politics, they claimed that Palestinian attacks are more motivated by nationalism rather than religion and considered Israeli accusations to be unconvincing for policymakers. [5] Later reports stated that the perpetrator was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and that the PFLP had claimed him as their member. [23] Others alleged that the perpetrator supported ISIL. [24] A little-known Palestinian group called "The Martyr of Baha Alyan Collective" claimed responsibility on 9 January. It stated that it had no outside links, had acted on political motives and it wasn't its first attack. It also warned that it would carry out more attacks in the future. [6]

Aftermath

Of nine suspects taken into custody on suspicion of involvement, five were members of the perpetrator's family: his wife, parents, and two siblings, [25] and an Israeli Cabinet meeting was scheduled. [26]

At 20:00 local time Channel 2 reported that shots had been fired from the Jabel Mukaber at the Israeli Border Patrol. [27]

Channel 10 reported that Israel had started to put concrete obstacles around the village Jabel Mukaber. [28] [ non-primary source needed ]

Accusations of reporting controversies

NRG stated that the title used by the BBC, "Driver of lorry shot in Jerusalem after allegedly ramming pedestrians, injuring at least 15, Israeli media report", was biased. [29] Later that day Honest Reporting, an advocacy group focused on defending Israel in the media, [30] [31] wrote that the BBC modified the title [32] and iterated over several other titles. Mako have criticized Fox News and CNN in addition to BBC for the titles that they used to describe the event. Mako claimed that omitting such information (withholding that it was a terrorist attack and done by a Palestinian) constitutes falsifying the reports. [33] Mako also claimed that it is the same case as it was during Sharona market shooting, the murder of Hadar Cohen and the March 2016 attacks. [33] Honest Reporting also criticized CNN, New York Times, The Guardian and NPR. [34] Honest Reporting called the news headlines biased when they do not explain the key factors of terror attack or fail to mention that they were carried out by a Palestinian assailant, or for refusing to use the term "terrorist". [34]

Reactions

Israel

International

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Talpiot</span> Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem

East Talpiot or Armon HaNetziv is an Israeli settlement in southern East Jerusalem, established by Israel in 1973 on land captured in the Six-Day War and occupied since then. The international community considers East Talpiot to be an Israeli settlement that is illegal under international law. With a population of over 15,000 Israeli settlers, East Talpiot is one of Jerusalem's Ring Neighborhoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Jerusalem bulldozer attack</span> Vehicle-ramming attack in West Jerusalem

On July 2, 2008, an Arab resident of East Jerusalem identified as Hussam Taysir Duwait attacked several cars on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem in a vehicle-ramming attack using a front-end loader, killing three civilians and wounding at least thirty other pedestrians, before being shot to death. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said that an inquiry indicated the attacker had been acting alone. A motive for the attack could not immediately be determined, but police at the scene referred to the incident as a terrorist attack. Three copycat attacks have occurred since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabel Mukaber</span> Municipality type B in Jerusalem, State of Palestine

Jabel Mukaber is a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in southern East Jerusalem. It is bordered by East Talpiot to the west, Abu Tor and Silwan to the north and Sur Baher to the south. Jabel Mukaber has a population of approximately 30,000 (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Itamar attack</span> Palestinian attack on an Israeli family in the West Bank

The Itamar attack, also called the Itamar massacre, was a terrorist attack on an Israeli family in the Israeli settlement of Itamar in the West Bank that took place on 11 March 2011, in which five members of the same family were murdered in their beds. The victims were the father Ehud (Udi) Fogel, the mother Ruth Fogel, and three of their six children—Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and Hadas, the youngest, a three-month-old infant. The infant was decapitated. The settlement of Itamar had been the target of several murderous attacks before these killings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks</span> Series of cross-border attacks

On August 18, 2011, a series of cross-border attacks with parallel attacks and mutual cover was carried out in southern Israel on Highway 12 near the Egyptian border by a squad of presumably twelve militants in four groups. The attacks occurred after Israel's interior security service Shin Bet had warned of an attack by militants in the region and Israeli troops had been stationed in the area. The militants first opened fire at an Egged No. 392 bus as it was traveling on Highway 12 in the Negev near Eilat. Several minutes later, a bomb was detonated next to an Israeli army patrol along Israel's border with Egypt. In a third attack, an anti-tank missile hit a private vehicle, killing four civilians. Eight Israelis – six civilians, one Yamam special unit police sniper and one Golani Brigade soldier—were killed in the multiple-stage attack. The Israel Defense Forces reported eight attackers killed, and Egyptian security forces reported killing another two.

The 2011 Tel Aviv nightclub attack was a combined vehicular assault and stabbing attack which occurred on 29 August 2011 when a Palestinian attacker stole an Israeli taxi cab and rammed it into a police checkpoint guarding the popular nightclub, Haoman 17, in Tel Aviv which was filled with 2,000 Israeli teenagers. After crashing into the checkpoint, the attacker jumped out of the vehicle and began stabbing people. Four civilians, four police officers, and the assailant were injured in the attack. The assailant was living illegally in Israel at the time of the attack.

The August 2012 Sinai attack occurred on 5 August 2012, when armed men ambushed an Egyptian military base in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 16 soldiers and stealing two armored cars, which they used to infiltrate into Israel. The attackers broke through the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Israel, where one of the vehicles exploded. They then engaged in a firefight with soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), during which six of the attackers were killed. No Israelis were injured.

A terrorist ramming attack occurred on 4 August 2014 in Jerusalem, when a Palestinian drove an excavator out of a construction site, injuring several pedestrians and killing a civilian before ramming the tractor into a public bus, overturning the bus and then hitting it repeatedly. The terrorist was shot dead at the scene by two police officers while still seated at the wheel of the tractor and continuing to attack the bus by swinging the arm of the excavator against it.

Sergeant Almog Shiloni of the Israel Defense Forces was killed on 10 November 2014 after he was stabbed multiple times at Tel Aviv HaHagana Railway Station. He died in hospital from his wounds. Shiloni was off-duty, but in uniform and armed at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–2016 wave of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict</span> Notable increase of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

An increase of violence occurred in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict starting in the autumn of 2015 and lasting into the first half of 2016. It was called the "Intifada of the Individuals" by Israeli sources, the Knife Intifada, Stabbing Intifada or Jerusalem Intifada by international sources because of the many stabbings in Jerusalem, or Habba by Palestinian sources. 38 Israelis and 235 Palestinians were killed in the violence. 558 Israelis and thousands of Palestinians were injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2016 Tel Aviv shooting</span> 2016 terrorist attack in Israel

In a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, Israel on 8 June 2016, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on patrons at the Max Brenner Cafe at the Sarona Market, killing four people and injuring seven others. The perpetrators were caught alive by the security forces and put in custody. According to an official indictment filed by the Tel Aviv District Prosecutor's Office the perpetrators were inspired by the Islamic State group.

On 16 June 2017, two Palestinian men opened fire on Israeli police officers in the Old City of Jerusalem, injuring four of them. An additional attacker stabbed a policewoman, she was critically injured, and later died in hospital. All three attackers were shot and killed by the Israeli authorities.

On 14 July 2017, three Arab-Israeli men left the Temple Mount, and opened fire on Israeli border police officers stationed near the Gate of the Tribes which is close to the Lions' Gate. Two Israeli border police officers were killed and two more were injured in the attack. All three attackers were shot and killed by Israeli police after fleeing back into the complex.

The Halamish attack, or the Halamish massacre was a terrorist attack on a Jewish family in the West Bank Israeli settlement of Halamish, that took place on 21 July 2017, in which three Israelis were stabbed to death and one severely wounded. The victims of the attack were Yosef Salomon, his daughter Chaya and son Elad, the three who were murdered in the attack, and Tova Salomon, Yosef's wife, who was injured but survived.

On 2 August 2017, a 19-year old Palestinian teen critically injured an Israeli civilian with a knife at a local supermarket in the city of Yavne, located in the Central District of Israel. The attacker was subsequently arrested after being captured by civilians who were at the spot. Police confirmed the attack was an act of terrorism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Har Adar shooting</span>

On the morning of 26 September 2017, a Palestinian gunman opened fire at Israeli security guards at the entrance gate of Har Adar, an Israeli settlement and affluent residential border community of Jerusalem located largely on the other side of the green line within the West Bank. Three Israeli security guards were killed and one was injured. The gunman was shot dead by the remaining guards. The Israeli authorities described the attack as an 'act of terrorism'.

On 13 October 2015, two Palestinians, armed with a firearm and a knife boarded a bus in the Israeli settlement of East Talpiot in East Jerusalem, and started attacking and stabbing the passengers. One of the assailants tried to take control on the bus and locked the bus door to prevent the passengers from escaping. Police arrived, killed one of the assailants and neutralized the other. Three civilians were killed and 15 wounded. One of the wounded succumbed to his wounds on 27 October 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Ramot Junction attack</span> Car-ramming attack in Jerusalem

On 10 February 2023, three Israelis were killed and four more were injured when a Palestinian man rammed his car into a bus stop in Ramot, an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem. The assailant was shot dead at the scene by a police officer. The fatalities included two children aged 6 and 8 and a 20-year-old man. Police labeled the attack as an act of terrorism.

On the morning of September 8, 2024, a Jordanian truck driver carried out a shooting attack at the Allenby Bridge, a border terminal between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, killing three Israeli civilians.

References

  1. Hasson, Nir; Cohen, Gili; Efrati, Ido; Ravid, Barak (8 January 2017). "Jerusalem Attack: 4 Soldiers Killed After Truck Rams into Pedestrians". Haaretz.
  2. Wootliff, Raoul. "Driver in Jerusalem truck-ramming reportedly shot dead". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. "4 Die as Palestinian Rams Truck into Israeli Soldiers in Jerusalem". The New York Times. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. Hasson, Nir; Cohen, Gili; Efrati, Ido; Ravid, Barak (8 January 2017). "Jerusalem attack: 4 soldiers killed after truck rams into pedestrians". Haaretz.
  5. 1 2 Baker, Luke (9 January 2017). "Unclear whether truck attack in Israel inspired by Islamic State". Reuters. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 McNeill, Sophie (9 January 2017). "Jerusalem attack: Palestinian group claims responsibility for deadly truck ramming". ABC News. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Four soldiers killed in truck-ramming terror attack named". The Times of Israel.
  8. "הותר לפרסום כי שלוש חיילות וחייל נרצחו בפיגוע הדריסה שאירע בארמון הנציב בירושלים. עוד נפצעו שני חיילים באורח קשה, שלושה בינוני ו-12 נוספים נפצעו קל".
  9. "Probe shows several soldiers fired at attacking driver – TV report". The Times of Israel .
  10. "Israeli police: Truck ramming kills 4 in Jerusalem". The Washington Post . Associated Press. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.[ dead link ]
  11. Beaumont, Peter (8 January 2017). "Four soldiers dead in Jerusalem truck attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  12. להורדה, הרבה יותר נוח לגלוש באפליקציית חדשות 20, לחץ עכשיו (8 January 2017). "עברה אצלי מחשבה בראש – אצא אזריה 2?". חדשות 20. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. 1 2 3 Yanovasky, Roi; Efraim, Omri (8 January 2017). "Four IDF soldiers murdered in terror attack in Jerusalem's East Talpiot". Ynetnews. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  14. Gross, Judah Ari (8 January 2017). "IDF says 2 soldiers fired at attacker, despite report of hesitation". The Times of Israel .
  15. Zitun, Yoav (8 January 2017). "Cadet from Jerusalem attack: We fought for our friends". Ynetnews.
  16. "Cleared for publication: Officer, three cadets killed in J'lm attack". The Jerusalem Post. 8 January 2017.
  17. Kershner, Isabel (9 January 2017). "Israel Buries 4 Soldiers, but the Mourning Is Marred by Discord". The New York Times. online. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  18. "משאית עם לוחית רישוי צהובה: המחבל - ממזרח י-ם". Ynet. 8 January 2017.
  19. "נתניהו במקום הפיגוע: "המחבל תומך דאעש - כיתרנו את ג'בל מוכבר"". חדשות 0404.[ permanent dead link ]
  20. Gross, Judah Ari (8 January 2017). "4 killed as driver plows truck into troops in Jerusalem terror attack". The Times of Israel . The driver of the truck was identified as Fadi al-Qanbar, a resident of the capital's Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, according to Arab media. The truck, with Israeli license plates, came from the direction of that neighborhood, which is adjacent to the promenade. He was in his late 20s, married with four children, and had served time in Israeli jail, Channel 2 said. He bought the truck last year.
  21. "מקורות פלסטינים: "למחבל עבר ביטחוני והוא עבד עבור קבלן בנייה"". Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  22. "פיגוע דריסה בירושלים: 4 חיילים נהרגו ו-13 נפצעו מפגיעת משאית - וואלה! חדשות". 8 January 2017.
  23. חורי, ג'קי; חסון, ניר (8 January 2017). "משפחתו של המחבל: הוא לא היה מזוהה עם שום ארגון". הארץ via Haaretz.
  24. "Truck attacker that killed four soldiers supported Islamic State, Netanyahu says". i24news. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  25. "חקירת הפיגוע: קרובי המחבל נעצרו". 8 January 2017.
  26. "פיגוע דריסה בשכונת ארמון הנציב, ארבעה חיילים נהרגו". Maariv (in Hebrew). 8 January 2017.
  27. Ohad Hemo (8 January 2017). "fireworks fired at Magav". Channel 2.
  28. "חדשות 10 on Twitter".
  29. NRG online [ permanent dead link ]
  30. "'Obsession' stokes passions, fears and controversy". Haaretz.
  31. "Fake photos of escalation posted on Twitter". The Jerusalem Post.
  32. "BBC Gradually Discovers Terror Truck Had Actual Driver Behind the Wheel". 8 January 2017.
  33. 1 2 "What do you think about 4 murdered and 11 wounded" (in Hebrew). 8 January 2017.
  34. 1 2 "Jerusalem Truck Ramming Terror Attack: Headline Fails". 8 January 2017.
  35. Domb, Yoel (8 January 2017). "Security Cabinet takes new steps in wake of attack". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  36. "גלי צה"ל : השר גלנט: "יש להרוס בתים, לגרש משפחות ולשלול ת.ז."
  37. לוקש, אלכסנדרה (9 January 2017). "גלנט: "לגרש את משפחת המחבל לסוריה (video interview)". Ynet. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  38. Lukash, Alexandra (9 January 2017). "Minister Galant: Expel terrorist's family to Syria". Ynetnews. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  39. "Haskel to the BBC the attack because of Abu Mazen". 8 January 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  40. "Liberman appears to pin blame for Jerusalem truck attack on Abbas". The Times of Israel. 10 January 2017.
  41. "Palestinians Hand Out Sweets to Celebrate Deadly Jerusalem Truck-Ramming Attack". Algemeiner.com.
  42. "Truck-ramming attack kills 4 Zionist soldiers, injures 18 in al-Quds". Pars Today (IRIB foreign-language web outlet).
  43. "Foreign officials express horror, condemn Jerusalem terror attack". The Times of Israel. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  44. "As links to Berlin, Nice seen, Netanyahu says truck attacker was IS supporter". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  45. "On the Terror Attack in Jerusalem". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  46. Brandenburg Gate lit up in memory of terror attack victims, Arutz 7, 9 January 2017.