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Hamas, PFLP, ISIS Buck over Claiming Recent Jerusalem Attack | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Israeli policemen secure the scene of the shooting and stabbing attack outside Damascus gate in Jerusalem’s old city June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad


Ramallah- Each of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP, Hamas and terror group ISIS have claimed involvement in the attack staged by three young Palestinian nationals in Jerusalem which killed a police officer.

Three Palestinians armed with an automatic weapon and knives attacked Israeli officers on duty near Jerusalem’s Old City in twin attacks at two locations on Friday evening, critically wounding one before they were shot and killed.

All three perpetrators were later shot down by Israeli soldiers.

Terror group ISIS claimed responsibility of the attack, reaffirming that the attack was premeditated and not improvised. Later on, Gaza Strip ruling party Hamas said that ISIS’ proclamation is incorrect and an attempt to distort the political scene.

“The three heroes, now martyrs, who have stage the Jerusalem attack are not affiliated with ISIS and are Hamas and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members,” senior Hamas leader and spokesman Izzat al-Rishq tweeted.

For its part, the PFLP issued a statement taking pride in and praising the operation, saying that Baraa and Osama –two of the three who had staged the attack- belonged to its ranks. It also mentioned that the two young Palestinians had been jailed in Israeli prisons before.

A wave of Palestinian street attacks began in October 2015 but has since slowed. Israel blames the violence on incitement by the Palestinian leadership.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies that and says assailants have acted out of frustration over Israeli occupation of land sought by Palestinians in peace talks that have been stalled since 2014.

On the other hand, Israeli authorities responded to the attack by revoking the visas of over half a million Palestinians which were previously granted in the observance of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming holidays.

More so, Israeli authorities have transformed Jerusalem to a military garrison and raided the Ramallah village known as Deir Abu Mash’al, where the three perpetrators were based.