Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett granted “all safety forces full freedom” of operations in a bid to curb a surge in assaults in Israel.
The transfer on Friday got here after a Palestinian man killed three folks and wounded 16 others in a crowded Tel Aviv leisure space the evening earlier than.
“There usually are not and won’t be limits for this struggle,” Bennett mentioned. “We’re granting full freedom of motion to the military, the Shin Guess [domestic security agency] and all safety forces as a way to defeat the phobia.”
After an all-night manhunt, Israeli police mentioned they shot lifeless the Palestinian gunman who opened fireplace on a avenue of crowded bars and eating places.
A Tel Aviv hospital on Friday introduced Barak Lufan, 35, who was wounded within the capturing, succumbed to his accidents. The opposite two who died in Thursday’s capturing have been two males – Tomer Morad, 28, and Eytam Magini, 27.
Particular forces confronted the Palestinian man within the previous metropolis of Yafa – a city that was ethnically cleansed, amongst others, in 1948 and are house to a minority Palestinian inhabitants at the moment – “eliminating the terrorist by change of fireside”, police commissioner Yaakov Shabtai mentioned.
He was recognized as 28-year-old Raad Hazem from the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin, the place final week Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in a raid.
Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Tel Aviv, mentioned whereas extra Israeli forces will likely be seen within the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and different Israeli cities, you’ll “additionally see extra safety forces within the occupied West Financial institution”.
This interprets into “extra raids, extra detentions, and positively rather more restrictions for these Palestinians who cross that separation barrier every day to get to their jobs inside Israel”, she mentioned.
Hamas, the organisation that governs the besieged Gaza Strip, and the Islamic Jihad group praised the assault, however didn’t declare accountability.
About 1,000 closely armed police and troopers fanned out throughout Tel Aviv to trace the assailant as residents cowered in restaurant kitchens or their properties.
Defence Minister Benny Gantz mentioned officers made “round 200 arrests”, including, “If vital, there will likely be 1000’s.”
Native media reviews say Israeli forces have “intensified defence efforts” close to the northern West Financial institution space.
On Friday, Ichilov Hospital was treating eight wounded folks – together with one in a vital situation – whereas eight others with much less severe accidents have been taken to different hospitals and later discharged.
Mourners lit candles and left flowers exterior the bar the place the assault happened.
‘Freedom and independence’
Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Jenin, mentioned Hazem’s household say they solely realized about their son’s involvement within the assault from the information.
“Whereas they are saying they’re stunned, they are saying they’ll perceive why folks in Raad’s age and circumstances would do one thing like that,” Ibrahim mentioned.
Hazem was born and raised within the Jenin refugee camp, which has been seen by Palestinians as a “stronghold for resistance”.
His father, Fathi Hazem, advised Al Jazeera, “The youth have misplaced hope in all the pieces, no jobs, disorientation, and each day assaults by the Israeli forces. They misplaced a whole lot of colleagues, buddies, and neighbours.”
He struck a defiant tone earlier as he spoke to tons of of well-wishers on the household house in Jenin, saying the Palestinian individuals are demanding “freedom and independence”.
Three different separate assaults by Palestinians since March 22 killed 11 Israelis, in a surge of violence not witnessed in years in Israel. All of the Palestinian assailants have been shot lifeless on the scene, both by police or armed Israeli civilians.
A minimum of 28 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces because the begin of 2022, in accordance with the Palestinian Authority’s well being ministry.
‘Pure response’ to Israeli crimes
Embattled Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas condemned Thursday’s assault, saying, “the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians solely results in an extra deterioration of the state of affairs,” in accordance with the official Wafa information company.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Washington stood with Israel “within the face of mindless terrorism and violence”.
Hamas, in the meantime, praised what it referred to as a “heroic operation” whereas Islamic Jihad referred to as it a “pure response” to Israel’s persevering with crimes. Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah lauded a “victorious” assault.
UN envoy for Center East peace, Tor Wennesland, denounced the “heinous assault” and slammed Hamas in a tweet.
“Deplore the welcoming of the assault by Hamas. There is no such thing as a glory in terrorism,” Wennesland mentioned.
Israel captured the West Financial institution within the 1967 Center East struggle and has established dozens of unlawful settlements the place almost 500,000 settlers reside, typically underneath heavy Israeli army safety. Settler assaults towards Palestinians and their property are an everyday incidence within the occupied West Financial institution, in addition to in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian management needs the West Financial institution as a part of a future state and views the unlawful settlements as a serious impediment to resolving the longstanding battle.
‘An energetic volcano’
The capturing got here on the eve of the primary Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Israel solely allowed Palestinian ladies, kids and males over 40 from the occupied West Financial institution to wish on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Friday. Tens of 1000’s attended the prayers, in accordance with authorities.
A number of Palestinians mentioned they have been turned again by Israeli safety forces on the Qalandiya checkpoint exterior Jerusalem. The checkpoint divides Jerusalem from Ramallah within the West Financial institution, and is the place Palestinians routinely spend hours trying to cross. It was constructed as a part of Israel’s separation barrier, deemed unlawful by the Worldwide Court docket of Justice.
“We may tie it [the attack] to Ramadan, because the Israelis love to do … however what it’s actually is that this energetic volcano that retains erupting,” Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, mentioned.
“The occupied territories, the system of apartheid, is an energetic volcano … It’s the system of apartheid and occupation that continues to be the driving force, the engine of increasingly violence.”
Final 12 months, protests happened all through Ramadan towards the unlawful eviction of Palestinians from their properties within the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
Confrontations between Palestinian worshippers and armed Israeli troopers in Jerusalem led to the Israeli forces’ crackdown on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound – the place tons of of Palestinians have been wounded.
The Israeli army additionally launched an 11-day bombardment marketing campaign on Gaza, killing at the least 260 Palestinians, together with 66 kids. On the Israeli aspect, 12 folks, together with two kids, have been killed.