Terror Attack on Bus Outside Jerusalem: Young Boy Killed, Several Injured

A tragic terror attack just south of Jerusalem late Wednesday night left a 10-year-old boy dead and several others wounded. The attack occurred when a gunman opened fire on a bus traveling to Jerusalem at a junction near the Palestinian town of al-Khader. The boy, identified as Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simha from Beitar Illit, was critically injured in the shooting and later died at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, despite doctors' best efforts to save him.

In addition to the young boy's death, a woman sustained moderate injuries, and two others were lightly wounded in the attack. The bus, which was en route from Beitar Illit, continued toward the Tunnels Checkpoint, where security forces quickly responded.

The assailant, later identified as Ezz Aldin Malluh, a Palestinian from Beit Awwa near Hebron, turned himself in to Israeli authorities the following morning. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Malluh attempted to surrender at a Palestinian Authority police station but was initially refused entry. Israeli officials clarified that he was not given protection by the Palestinian Authority (PA) forces.

The attack follows a series of rising tensions in Judea and Samaria, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Security forces have been facing increasing violence, including shootings and car-ramming incidents, as part of a broader wave of terror attacks. In total, 42 individuals, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in such attacks since the escalation began.

Escalating Violence and Military Response

Judea and Samaria has seen a significant rise in violence since the start of the Gaza war, with multiple deadly incidents occurring in quick succession. Just a day before the bus attack, three Israelis were wounded in a shooting at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, and a car-ramming attack south of Jerusalem over the weekend left a soldier seriously injured.

The Israeli military has intensified its counterterrorism operations, arresting over 5,250 Palestinians, including more than 2,000 affiliated with Hamas, as part of efforts to curb the violence. In these operations, 42 Israelis have died in terror attacks, while around 800 Palestinians have been killed, with most casualties linked to violent clashes with Israeli troops or terrorist activities.