At least six people were killed and nine wounded on Tuesday when two gunmen opened fire on passers-by after getting off a tram in Tel Aviv. The attackers were shot dead by Israeli security forces and an armed civilian, according to police, who labeled it a terrorist attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Shortly after the shooting, air raid sirens sounded as Iran launched missiles toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of prominent figures from its Axis of Resistance alliance. Israel has been on high alert amid tensions with Gaza and the escalating conflict with Lebanon, which risks drawing in Iran.
Footage showed the gunmen firing on a train platform, while medics treated victims on-site, including some who were unconscious.
Israel’s hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees key policy areas related to the occupied West Bank, announced that the attackers responsible for the Tel Aviv shooting came from the West Bank city of Hebron. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Smotrich called for strong retaliatory measures against the suspects’ families.
He stated that he would demand, during the next cabinet meeting, that family members of the attackers be deported to Gaza and their homes demolished. This reflects Smotrich’s longstanding support for harsh punitive measures against Palestinians involved in attacks on Israelis. His stance is expected to stir further debate within the Israeli government and internationally.
The war in Gaza began nearly a year ago when Hamas-led gunmen launched an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, while significant destruction has been inflicted on the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, Israel is engaged in fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon to prevent rocket attacks on its northern regions. Last week, Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut, which resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. This escalation marks a broader regional conflict as Israel contends with threats from both Gaza and Lebanon.
