MAALE ADUMIM, West Bank — A Palestinian gunman opened hearth in an Israeli settlement east of Jerusalem on Tuesday, wounding no less than 5 folks earlier than being shot and killed, Israeli police stated.

The capturing exterior a shopping center within the sprawling Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim, within the occupied West Bank, was the most recent in probably the most violent stretch of the Israeli-Palestinian battle within the territory in practically 20 years.

An off-duty police officer in Maale Adumim heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene, the place police stated the Palestinian assailant turned his gun on him. The officer opened hearth in response, killing the Palestinian, who was dressed as a safety guard in a neon vest.

The Islamic militant teams Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the assault as “heroic” however stopped in need of claiming duty.

In an audio clip purportedly recorded by the assailant and shared on social media, he vows to “die for the sake of Allah” and asks that his assault “not be claimed by any political faction.”

“This operation is a natural response to the storming of the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Islamic Jihad spokesman Tariq Salami stated, referring to a go to to the delicate Jerusalem holy web site by hard-line Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and 1000's of different spiritual Jews final week. The contested compound has lengthy been a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Palestinian Health Ministry recognized the assailant as 20-year-old Muhannad al-Mazraa from Azariya, a West Bank city simply east of Jerusalem.

The attacker wounded no less than 5 folks, Israel‘s rescue service stated. The males, ranging in age from 14 to 40 years outdated, had been absolutely acutely aware and in average to severe situation, it added.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians within the West Bank intensified early final yr when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas within the West Bank in response to a spate of Palestinian assaults towards Israelis.

The violence has spiked this yr, with greater than 150 Palestinians killed by Israeli hearth because the begin of 2023 within the West Bank and east Jerusalem, based on a tally by The Associated Press.

Israel says most of these killed have been militants, however stone-throwing youths protesting the raids and others not concerned within the confrontations have additionally been killed.

At least 26 folks have been killed in Palestinian assaults towards Israelis throughout that point.

Israel captured the West Bank within the 1967 Mideast battle, together with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians search these territories for his or her hoped-for impartial state.

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