Palestinian factions celebrate terror attack in Jerusalem, hail 'heroic operation'

In Gaza, as well as in some Palestinian communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, there were celebrations following the murder of seven Jews in Friday evening’s terror attack in Neve Yaakov in Jerusalem.

Both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist groups were quick to praise the attack, saying it showed Israel’s inability to counter terrorism.  

“The heroic operation demonstrated the inability of the Zionist occupation to confront the heroes of the resistance,” said Hamas official Abdel Latif Qanou, who claimed the attack was “just the start” of the Palestinian response to “crimes of the government of the fascist settlers.” 

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem also praised the attack, saying that “the heroic action came in retaliation for those killed in Jenin.”

Qassem’s comment was a reference to nine people who were killed in a shootout between Israeli security forces and Palestinian gunmen during an Israeli operation to apprehend a Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror cell.

“Intelligence had come through indicating a terror group there was planning a serious, and exceedingly imminent attack. The sense of urgency was so great that security forces moved during the day, rather than waiting for nightfall,” stated independent journalist Arlene Kushner.

The targets for arrest by the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police were milling on a rooftop when the Israeli forces entered and opened fire on the incoming officers, who responded accordingly.

Hamas released a statement that Friday’s terror attack “is a natural reaction to the crime of the occupation of Jenin. The young revolutionaries and the resistance imposed an equation according to which killing would be met with killing. The battle with the occupation is protracted and ongoing.” 

The PIJ also issued a statement saying, “This operation came at the right time and place to avenge the blood of the martyrs in the Jenin camp and the West Bank.” 

As usual, the PIJ attempted to tie the attack to protection of the Temple Mount against Jewish aggression. 

“It came as a natural and legitimate response to the crimes of the occupation and the violations against the holy sites,” the statement said. 

A video released on social media, and shared widely by both Palestinians and Israelis showed the mother of the Neve Yaakov terrorist handing out sweets to celebrate the attack.

The terrorist’s father also stated in an interview on Arab media that “our Sovereign decreed his fate to be a shaheed [martyr]. I want to say to those who sit with me – this is my joy, it’s like his wedding.”