Violence in Jerusalem: Palestinian Authority blames Israel

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Israeli soldiers at the scene in East Jerusalem (on Saturday)

Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images

Israel bears "full responsibility for the dangerous escalation" - the Palestinian Authority said on Saturday after the two attacks in Jerusalem.

The quasi-government of the Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip did not comment specifically on the attacks.

The Islamist Hezbollah in Lebanon had previously praised Friday night's attack as "heroic".

The militant Iran-affiliated organization expressed "absolute support for all steps taken by the Palestinian resistance groups."

On Friday evening, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day of all days, a Palestinian attacker opened fire in front of a synagogue in east Jerusalem after the start of the Jewish Sabbath.

Seven people were shot dead and at least three injured.

The 21-year-old attacker was killed by police after a chase.

According to their own statements, the police arrested 42 people for questioning on Saturday.

Among them are family members of the assassin, who also came from East Jerusalem, as well as other residents of his district.

One day after this assassination, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians escalated further with another gun attack in East Jerusalem: According to police reports, a 13-year-old Palestinian shot around on Saturday near the Old City, injuring a 47-year-old father and his 23-year-old daughter -year-old son.

Both were hit by bullets on the upper body, the son suffered serious injuries.

The Palestinian teenager from the eastern part of the city annexed by Israel was overpowered by passers-by and injured.

Celebrations in Gaza and the West Bank

Palestinians in the autonomous regions reacted to the terrorist attack in front of the synagogue with celebrations on Friday evening.

Eyewitnesses reported militants shooting up in the air and pouring into the streets on Friday night.

A spokesman for Gaza's ruling Hamas said the attack was "in retaliation for the Israeli army's attack on the Jenin refugee camp on Thursday."

Nine Palestinians were killed on January 27 when the Israeli army raided the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin in the north of the occupied West Bank.

According to the UN, it was the highest number of casualties in a single Israeli operation in the West Bank since the end of the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising from 2000 to 2005.

more on the subject

• Reactions:»The attack on a synagogue on Holocaust Remembrance Day and during Shabbat is appalling«

• On Holocaust Remembrance Day: Attacker kills seven people in Jerusalem

• Dead and injured: Scholz "deeply shaken" by attacks in Jerusalem

• Palestinian attacker shoots seven people dead in Jerusalem: The Synagogue MurdersBy Richard C. Schneider, Tel Aviv

• The day after the terrorist attack: Two people were wounded in renewed shooting in Jerusalem

• State crisis in Israel: "Forward to the Middle Ages" by Julia Amalia Heyer and Felix Rettberg, Tel Aviv

• Clashes with Palestinians: At least eight dead in Israeli military operation in the West Bank

In retaliation, rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Friday.

The Israeli army intercepted most of the missiles with its air defense system.

In response to the rocket attacks, Israel launched several airstrikes against Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip.

After the attack in front of the synagogue, the police were on the highest alert level.

Israel's police chief Kobi Schabtai spoke of "one of the worst attacks in recent years" with regard to the attack in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced "immediate countermeasures".

Concerns are now growing in Israel and internationally about an uncontrollable escalation of violence.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was "deeply shocked" by the attacks.

French President Emmanuel Macron also warned the parties to the conflict "to avoid a spiral of violence at all costs".

Numerous states condemned the attack, including the USA, France, Great Britain, Turkey and the Arab states of Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Many countries called on Israelis and Palestinians to exercise restraint.

The EU condemned the attacks in Jerusalem as "acts of insane violence and hatred" while calling on Israel to use deadly force only as a "last resort".

Russia also called on the parties to the conflict to exercise “the greatest possible restraint”.

"A further escalation of tensions" must be prevented, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks in Jerusalem as terrorist attacks and "cynical crimes".

"One of the victims is a Ukrainian woman," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Selenskyj, who has Jewish roots, expressed his condolences to the relatives.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wants to try to de-escalate the situation in Jerusalem and Ramallah on Monday and Tuesday.

bor/AFP/dpa