Israeli troops have fatally shot a Palestinian man after at least eight Jewish settlers were wounded in a car-ramming attack in the occupied city of al-Quds, amid heightened tensions between Israeli forces and Palestinians.
The regime's emergency service said in a Monday statement that a settler, in his 70s, is in serious condition as a result of the purported assault near a market on Monday.
A woman in her 30s is also in moderate condition, while six others are listed in good condition, including a 50-year-old man and two men aged 25.
The eight settlers have been taken to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals in al-Quds to receive medical treatment.
The Palestinian man, identified as 39-year-old Hatim Nijma from Beit Safafa town, was shot and killed by an Israeli settler who was at the scene, according to the regime's public broadcaster Kan.
Palestinian resistance groups have hailed the “heroic operation” in al-Quds as “a natural response” to the violence perpetrated by the Israeli regime against Palestinians.
“We commend the car-ramming operation in the occupied city of al-Quds; and consider it a natural and effective response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, as well as incursions into and desecration of the Bab al-Rahma prayer space,” the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said in a statement.
“The operation marks a new and strong blow to the security and military apparatus of the Zionist entity. It conveys a clear message to the criminal entity and its fascist leaders that there is no safety or security for them on our [Palestinian] land,” the statement added.
Abdel Latif al-Qanou, a spokesman for the Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement, also said the al-Quds operation was carried out in retaliation for the occupying regime’s crimes against Palestinians and its violations of the sanctity of the sacred al-Aqsa Mosque, the latest of which was storming Bab al-Rahma area and cutting off electricity there.
“The Zionist occupation will continue to pay the price for its crimes and incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque. It will neither enjoy security nor stability, and our people will continue their revolution and defense of the mosque,” he pointed out.
Additionally, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement said in a statement that the “heroic operation” in al-Quds proves that resistance and multi-pronged struggle are the sole option in the face of the Israeli occupation.
Over the past months, Israel has ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and cities throughout the occupied territories. As a result of these attacks, dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives and many others have been arrested.
Most of the raids have focused on Nablus and Jenin, where Israeli forces have been trying to stifle a growing Palestinian resistance against occupation.
Local and international rights groups have condemned Israel’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.