Three people have been shot dead in Jerusalem after two attackers reportedly opened fire at a bus stop, at least six others have been injured - some of them critically. Hamas has claimed the gunmen - who were shot dead by police - were its members.
- It comes a day after two Palestinian boys, 8 and 14, were shot and killed during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin
- Separately, Israel has extended a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for a seventh day as international mediators try to negotiate the release of more hostages.
- On Wednesday 12 Israeli and four Thai hostages held by Hamas arrived back in Israel
- In exchange, 30 Palestinian women and teenage boys were freed from Israeli jails
- The Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October killed 1,200 people with around 240 others taken hostage
- Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,800 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign, including about 6,000 children.
Hamas has claimed the gunmen who carried out this morning's Jerusalem shooting that killed three people were its members, as per a Telegram channel affiliated with the group.
In a statement, Hamas said that "the operation came as a natural response to unprecedented crimes conducted by the occupation," citing Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The statement also called for "an escalation of the resistance," news agency AFP said.
Security measures have been ramped up in Jerusalem after the shooting earlier which killed three people and injured 16 others, Israeli police have said.
Of those injured, three are in serious condition and the rest suffered "various degrees of injuries (including victims of shock)", a police spokesperson said.
Police say the attack was carried out by "two armed terrorists, brothers in their 30s from the Zur Baher neighbourhood in East Jerusalem" at around 07:40 local time.
The attackers "shot at civilians at bus and shuttle stations, using an M-16 rifle and a handgun", and were shot dead by two off-duty soldiers and a civilian, police said.
The police say they have further reinforced "current security measures in the city, including adding patrols, improvised roadblocks, and checking suspects" after the attack.
Officials are launching an investigation into the attack, the spokesperson added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv today - as he makes a further visit to the region since the Israel-Hamas war began on 7 October.
"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," Blinken said during the meeting.
"It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately. So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue."
Blinken is now holding talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and will meet Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah later.
How these incidents in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jenin will affect the temporary truce which allows for the continued exchange of hostages and prisoners is unclear.
That temporary ceasefire has now been extended for another day, but it feels particularly fragile.
The hard-line national security minister in Israel’s government, Itamar Ben-Gvir, arrived quickly at the scene of this morning’s shooting supporting the arming of Israeli civilians. He has also called for the resumption of Israel’s war in Gaza to defeat Hamas.
Meanwhile the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has arrived in Israel as the international community continues to express its support for extending the truce between Israel and Hamas for as long as possible, enabling the release of even more hostages held captive in Gaza.
MANY MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT AT: Three killed in Jerusalem shooting hours after Gaza ceasefire renewed - BBC News
