“Especially despicable” on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Secretary General Guterres’ spokesman called the attack. He calls on Israel and the Palestinians to exercise restraint as tensions continue to escalate. At the place of worship, eight people were killed on Friday, ten others were injured, according to police. Reports of the number of victims vary. The Jerusalem Post reports seven dead and three wounded.
“Terrible Terrorist Attack”
The White House strongly condemns the “heinous terrorist attack” and also refers to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Biden later said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone. He offered his Israeli colleague “all the help he can get”. Biden spoke of “an attack on the civilized world”.
The British Foreign Secretary called the attack on a synagogue after the Saturday celebration horrific. “We stand with our Israeli friends,” he said in a statement.
Tense situation
The situation in Israel is very tense after a military operation in Jenin that killed nine Palestinians. Rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip and Israel has carried out airstrikes. The Palestinians have ended security cooperation with Israel.
The attack is said to be in retaliation for the attack on Jenin, according to Palestinian Hamas. The 21-year-old East Jerusalem gunman was killed by police, who say they acted alone.