Hamas Praises Tel Aviv Attack as Israeli Military Continues Operation in Jenin Refugee Camp

On Tuesday, July 4th, 2023, a Palestinian man drove his car into a crowded bus stop in Tel Aviv and began stabbing people, wounding eight. The attack was praised by the Islamist militant group Hamas as a response to Israel’s ongoing military operation in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli military had been pressing ahead with an operation in the Jenin refugee camp, which they say is home to Palestinians responsible for a spate of attacks on Israeli citizens in recent months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was being carried out with “minimum harm to civilians” and that they were “putting an end to this.”

Israeli forces reported they had been able to find and seize weapons and explosives as well as destroy tunnels and command posts. Police Chief Kobi Shabtai said an armed civilian shot and killed the assailant at the scene of the attack.

The attack in Tel Aviv has raised tensions between Israel and Palestine, as the Israeli military continues its operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli government has said it is targeting the camp in order to protect its citizens from further attacks.