Two Palestinians carried out an armed attack in central Jaffa, resulting in several casualties, according to Israeli media reports.
Initial reports conflicted on the number of casualties. Israel Today stated that eight people were killed in the Jaffa attack, while other Israeli sources reported six critically injured. Later, Israeli authorities revised the numbers, confirming seven fatalities and 16 wounded.
Channel 12 reported that ten individuals were injured, with six in critical condition. Meanwhile, Israel’s Army Radio mentioned four critically injured.
The attackers reportedly infiltrated Israel, stabbed a soldier, seized his weapon, and carried out the attack using the soldier’s gun, according to Israel Army Radio.
As for the assailants’ identities, Channel 13 indicated that the attackers were from Hebron in the West Bank. Some Palestinian news outlets claimed they were affiliated with Hamas, though no official statement has been released yet.
Hamas praised the “heroic” Jaffa operation, calling it a “natural response to the genocide and Zionist aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Lebanon.”
In Israel’s first response, Channel 12 quoted Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said, “I will now demand in the Cabinet meeting that the families of the attackers be deported to Gaza tonight, without the Supreme Court and without B’Tselem.”
This attack marks the largest in Tel Aviv since the Second Intifada in 2000.
Reports suggest the attackers used automatic weapons to execute the attack, with social media in Israel stating, “Hamas is repeating October 7, but this time in Tel Aviv.”
The Walla news site mentioned that the Israeli army increased its alert levels due to warnings of potential suicide (martyrdom) operations ahead of the holidays. The army also arrested several Palestinians in cities and villages across the West Bank.
The Israeli army plans to increase its troop presence in areas of friction, key intersections, and settlements.
