6 killed in Jerusalem shooting as gunmen open fire at bus stop

Six people have been killed and eight others wounded after Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem, in one of the deadliest attacks in the city in recent years.

Israeli police said the assault unfolded on Thursday morning at Ramot Junction, on the capital’s northern outskirts, when “two terrorists arrived in a vehicle” and began shooting indiscriminately at commuters waiting for buses.

The attack was brought to an end when an off-duty soldier and an armed civilian returned fire, killing the assailants on the spot, police confirmed.

Israeli media identified the victims as five men, aged between 25 and 79, and a 60-year-old woman. Local hospitals reported that two of the injured remain in critical condition.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility from any armed groups, but Hamas — the militant group that governs Gaza — praised the attack, describing it as a “heroic operation.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the scene, vowed a forceful response.

“We are in an intense war against terrorism on several fronts,” he told reporters.

“Our security forces have thwarted hundreds of attacks in the West Bank this year, but, unfortunately, not this morning.”

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions following months of violence across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli forces have carried out frequent raids in the West Bank, while recent cross-border exchanges with militants in Gaza and Lebanon have further inflamed the situation.

Footage shared on local media showed shattered bus shelters and scattered belongings at the scene, as emergency workers rushed to treat the wounded.

Police have stepped up patrols across Jerusalem in response, warning of the possibility of further attacks.

International leaders condemned the violence, urging restraint to avoid a further escalation.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said it was “deeply saddened” by the attack and reiterated its support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

The killings add to an already bloody year in the region, with both Israelis and Palestinians suffering heavy casualties in a cycle of attacks, reprisals and security crackdowns.