It comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians as a result of months of Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank and a spate of 19 deadly attacks against Israelis.
Two explosions at bus stations in Jerusalem have resulted in at least one death and one injury, which Israeli authorities believe was a Palestinian attack.
Thirty minutes later, a second explosion was recorded in the Ramot neighborhood to the north of the city. The first explosion occurred along a route that is typically crowded with commuters.
It comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians as a result of months of Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank and a spate of 19 deadly attacks against Israelis.
This year, more than 130 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making 2022 the bloodiest year since 2006 in terms of Palestinian casualties.
According to the Israeli army, the majority of Palestinians slain were militants. However, stone-throwing protesters and others who were not participating in clashes have also been slain.
“There was a massive explosion. There are holes everywhere here “Yosef Haim Gabay, a medic on the scene when the initial explosion happened, told Israeli Army Radio.
“I witnessed folks whose wounds were bleeding everywhere,”
According to Israel’s rescue agency, at least 14 individuals were hurt in the explosions, including four who were critically injured.
The twin explosions occurred during rush hour, and authorities shut down a portion of the main highway going out of the city, where the first explosion occurred.
Shortly after the initial explosion, surveillance footage captured debris strewn over the pavement as ambulance sirens blared.
The Islamic militant group Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip and has previously carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, lauded the perpetrators of the attacks, calling it a “heroic action,” but refrained from admitting responsibility.
Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua stated, “The occupation is paying for its crimes and aggression against our people.”
