Two Killed, 4 Wounded in Terror Attack at Re’em Junction in South Israel; Gunman Dead

Two Israelis were killed and four others were wounded, including two in serious condition, in a shooting attack at a junction in southern Israel on Friday afternoon, February 16, police and medics said.

The terror attack took place at Re’em Junction, just north of the city of Kiryat Malachi, shortly after 12:30 p.m. Police said the terrorist arrived at the scene in a vehicle and opened fire at people at a bus station with a handgun before he was shot and killed by an off-duty IDF reservist officer at the scene.

The Shin Bet identified the terrorist as Fadi Jamjoum, 37, from East Jerusalem’s Shuafat. He holds Israeli residency. A large number of police officers were conducting searches at the scene to ensure no other terrorists were involved, although law enforcement officials indicated that the terrorist had likely acted alone.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said its medics treated six people at the scene, including a man in his 20s in critical condition who was later declared dead at Rehovot’s Kaplan Medical Center. MDA said it also treated three people in serious condition, one of whom was also declared dead at Kaplan.

One of the victims was later identified as Yishai Gertner, 23, of Modiin Illit. On Saturday, the second fatality was named as IDF reservist Sgt. First Class (res.) Ori Yaish, 27, of the Jerusalem Brigade’s 8119th Battalion’s support company, from Modiin. Two other people, including a 65-year-old woman, were listed in moderate condition.

Meanwhile, IDF data recently revealed that the number of terror attacks in Judea and Samaria throughout 2023 was 350% higher than in 2022. The data shows that there were 608 ramming, shooting, stabbing, and explosive device attacks, compared to 170 such attacks in 2022. 300 of the incidents were shooting attacks - the highest number since the Second Intifada. (TOI / VFI News)

“God, we pray for the families of the two victims of the recent terror attack and we ask that You provide them with comfort and peace. We send our sincerest condolences to them and we pray for the health and recovery of the injured citizens. Please, stop these terrorists and dismantle their organizations so they can no longer harm our people. May You grant us this request and help us live peacefully on the land You have given us.”

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