Two men, including an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier and an armed civilian, intervened to stop a terrorist attack in Jerusalem on Monday after Palestinian gunmen opened fire on civilians waiting at a bus stop.
Officials confirmed that at least six people were killed and several others were injured in the attack.
The incident unfolded quickly, with both military and civilian responders taking immediate action to prevent further casualties.
“I was at the junction and heard gunfire,” an IDF sergeant told Ynet Global.
“I ran out to the bus stop and saw the terrorists. A few civilians and I identified them and opened fire until we saw they were fully neutralized, then we moved in to help the wounded. I’m glad I was able to do it.”
The off duty Soldier and squad commander in the IDF’s ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade.
“I heard shooting, I realized we had to make contact. I’m glad I was lucky enough to be able to do it.” https://t.co/3CEvbyHlne pic.twitter.com/aVhGqHtaUk
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The sergeant serves in the Hasmonean Brigade, a recently formed unit within the IDF created in 2024.
The brigade was designed to allow ultra-Orthodox men to serve while maintaining their religious practices, and Monday’s incident marked one of its most significant engagements since its establishment.
A civilian at the scene also joined in halting the attack.
According to Ynet Global, the man was a yeshiva student armed with a pistol inherited from his grandfather, who had previously volunteered as a police officer. The student had recently received a firearm license under residency-based requirements.
Witnesses said he immediately engaged the attackers alongside the IDF soldier. His brother-in-law told Ynet Global, “He was on his way to yeshiva. He emptied the magazine on the terrorists.”
After the confrontation ended, the student gave testimony to police about his role in stopping the attack.
Col. Avinoam Emunah, commander of the Hasmonean Brigade, praised the swift actions of the soldier under his command.
He said the incident underscored the importance of training members of the brigade for combat readiness.
“This is further proof of the great significance of establishing the brigade and training Haredi fighters to bear arms, to be ready for combat and to neutralize any threat wherever it appears,” Emunah said, according to Ynet Global.
Authorities later identified the two attackers as Muthana Amro and Mohammed Taha.
Both were killed during the confrontation at the bus stop.
The attack and its immediate resolution drew attention to the broader role of armed civilians in Israel, particularly in areas that have been frequent targets of violence.
The government has expanded access to firearm licenses for residents under certain criteria, a policy that was reflected in the yeshiva student’s ability to carry the pistol used to help stop the attack.
The joint effort by the Hasmonean Brigade sergeant and the armed civilian prevented what officials said could have been an even higher casualty count.
Police and emergency responders secured the area following the incident and transported the wounded to nearby hospitals.
The attack marked one of the deadliest in Jerusalem this year and highlighted both the ongoing security challenges facing Israeli civilians and the increasing emphasis on rapid-response capabilities by both military and armed citizens.
Investigations into the attackers and their connections are continuing.