2023 Ramot Junction attack

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2023 Ramot Junction attack

| location = Ramot, East Jerusalem

| date = {{start date|2023|02|10}}

| partof = the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

| image = 2023 Ramot Junction attack IV.jpg

| timezone = UTC+2

| type = Vehicle-ramming attack

| fatalities = 3 victims, 1 perpetrator

| injuries = 4 victims

| perpetrator = Hussein Qaqawa

| native_name = פיגוע הדריסה בשכונת רמות

| native_name_lang = heb

| coordinates = {{coord|31|49|31|N|35|11|19|E|display=title,inline}}

| time = 13:27 pm

| caption = An Israeli police officer examines the attacker's vehicle at the scene of the attack.

| map = {{location map|Israel jerusalem|caption=The attack site}}

}}

On 10 February 2023, three Israelis were killed and four more were injured when a Palestinian man rammed his car into a bus stop in Ramot, an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem. The assailant was shot dead at the scene by a police officer. The fatalities included two children aged 6 and 8 and a 20-year-old man. Police labeled the attack as an act of terrorism.{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |title=Two killed, including 6-year-old boy, in Jerusalem car-ramming; driver shot dead |work=The Times of Israel|date=10 February 2023 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-least-6-wounded-2-seriously-in-suspected-car-ramming-attack-in-jerusalem/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210122201/https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-least-6-wounded-2-seriously-in-suspected-car-ramming-attack-in-jerusalem/ |archive-date=10 February 2023}}{{Cite news |last1=Temari |first1=Liran |last2=Yanko |first2=Adir |last3=Cohen |first3=Gilad |last4=Fox |first4=Nina |last5=Eichner |first5=Itmar |date=2023-02-10 |title=ילד וצעיר נרצחו בפיגוע דריסה בירושלים. עוד 5 נפצעו, בהם ילד נוסף שמצבו אנוש |language=he |trans-title=A boy and a young man were killed in a stampede attack in Jerusalem. Another 5 were injured, including another child who is in critical condition |website=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/sj00josm6s |url-status=live |access-date=2023-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210202405/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/sj00josm6s |archive-date=2023-02-10}}{{Cite web |last1=Greenwood |first1=Hanan |last2=Yalon |first2=Yuri |date=2023-02-10 |title=שני נרצחים בפיגוע דריסה בירושלים; רה"מ נתניהו: "נפעל לאטום ולהרוס את בית המחבל מיידית" |trans-title=Two killed in a stampede attack in Jerusalem; Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We will work to seal and destroy the terrorist's house immediately" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/defense/article/13684542 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210202405/https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/defense/article/13684542 |archive-date=2023-02-10 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Israel Hayom |language=he}}

Perpetrator

The attacker was identified as 31-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel named Hussein Qaraqa, a resident of Isawiya.{{Cite news |title=Child, Man Killed in Jerusalem Car Ramming Attack |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-10/ty-article/.premium/several-injured-in-suspected-ramming-attack-in-jerusalem/00000186-3b1c-dfa7-afee-ff7fc3e00000 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210202403/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-10/ty-article/several-injured-in-suspected-ramming-attack-in-jerusalem/00000186-3b1c-dfa7-afee-ff7fc3e00000 |archive-date=2023-02-10}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-10 |title=Two murdered in Jerusalem terror attack, multiple wounded |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/defense/1676029009-suspected-car-ramming-in-east-jerusalem-settlement-report |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=i24NEWS |language=en |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212042709/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/defense/1676029009-suspected-car-ramming-in-east-jerusalem-settlement-report |url-status=live }} Social media (primarily Facebook) activity showed that Qaraqa had made statements in support of Palestinian militant groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Lions' Den. During the 2022 Gaza–Israel clashes he expressed his support for the PIJ. He regularly praised Palestinians who carried out attacks on Israelis, both soldiers and civilians.{{Cite web|first=Dion J.|last=Pierre|title=Palestinians Celebrate Murder of Israelis in Terrorist Attack, Media Headlines Call Victims 'Settlers'|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/02/10/palestinians-celebrate-murder-of-israeli-child-in-terrorist-attack-media-headlines-call-victims-settlers/|date=2023-02-10|access-date=2023-02-11|work=The Algemeiner|language=en-US|archive-date=11 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211234255/https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/02/10/palestinians-celebrate-murder-of-israeli-child-in-terrorist-attack-media-headlines-call-victims-settlers/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-10 |title=הפוסטים המסיתים של המחבל לפני הפיגוע: "תחי ההתנגדות האמיצה שלנו" |trans-title=The terrorist's inciting posts before the attack: "Long live our brave resistance" |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/2023_q1/Article-9d68b6d6d4b3681026.htm |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=N12 |language=he |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211234313/https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/2023_q1/Article-9d68b6d6d4b3681026.htm |url-status=live }}

Qaraqa had been released from a psychiatric hospital a few days prior to the attack. His uncle told Palestinian media that Qaraqa suffered from severe back pain.{{Cite web |last=Debre |first=Isabel |date=2023-02-10 |title=Israeli police: 2 killed, 5 wounded in Jerusalem car-ramming |url=https://apnews.com/article/jerusalem-middle-east-israel-health-ae159ce918b816afc2ef8a0b296ae0d6 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213024145/https://apnews.com/article/jerusalem-middle-east-israel-health-ae159ce918b816afc2ef8a0b296ae0d6 |url-status=live }} Israeli police arrested a Qaraqa's relative and his brother for expressing their intention to carry out similar attacks.{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=2023-02-15 |title=Police arrest relative of Jerusalem car-rammer, say he also planned attack |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/police-arrest-relative-of-jerusalem-car-rammer-say-he-also-planned-attack/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216103902/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/police-arrest-relative-of-jerusalem-car-rammer-say-he-also-planned-attack/ |url-status=live }}

Reactions

Hamas and Islamic Jihad both praised the attack as "heroic". The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed wing of the West Bank's governing Fatah party also welcomed the attack.{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-02-10 |title='A hero:' Palestinians celebrate Jerusalem terror attack |language=en |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skbwtmvpi |access-date=2023-02-11 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211234255/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skbwtmvpi |url-status=live }}

In response, the Israeli cabinet approved the legalization of nine settlement outposts deep in the West Bank.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-13 |title=Cabinet okays legalization of 9 West Bank outposts in response to Jerusalem attacks |language=en |work=The Times of Israel |first=Jacob |last=Magid |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-okays-legalization-of-9-west-bank-outposts-in-response-to-jerusalem-attacks/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216111557/https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-okays-legalization-of-9-west-bank-outposts-in-response-to-jerusalem-attacks/ |url-status=live }} Israeli authorities announced 300 bus stops will be fortified to prevent future attacks, while the Jerusalem municipality will later fortify an additional 700 stops in areas where the need is deemed less urgent.{{Cite web |last=Bachner |first=Michael |date=2023-02-15 |title=After terror attacks, all Jerusalem bus stops to be fortified, Border Police boosted |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-terror-attacks-all-jerusalem-bus-stops-to-be-fortified-border-police-boosted/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Times of Israel |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216043437/https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-terror-attacks-all-jerusalem-bus-stops-to-be-fortified-border-police-boosted/ |url-status=live }} In addition, the Knesset passed a law to revoke Israeli citizenship of convicted terrorists who receive payments from the Palestinian Authority.{{Cite web |last=Keller-Lynn |first=Carrie |date=2023-02-15 |title=Knesset passes law to strip terrorists who receive PA stipends of Israeli citizenship |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-to-strip-terrorists-who-receive-pa-stipends-of-israeli-citizenship/amp/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Times of Israel |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216103157/https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-to-strip-terrorists-who-receive-pa-stipends-of-israeli-citizenship/amp/ |url-status=live }}

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had recently visited Israel, said, "The deliberate targeting of innocent civilians is repugnant and unconscionable. We stand firmly with Israel in the face of this attack."{{Cite web |first=Hadas |last1=Gold |first2=Amir |last2=Tal |date=2023-02-10 |title=Second child dies in car ramming attack in Jerusalem |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/middleeast/jerusalem-car-ramming-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216092600/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/middleeast/jerusalem-car-ramming-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}

The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on its website, conveying condolences to Israel, strongly condemning the "terrorist attack", and rejecting "all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles."{{Cite web |title=UAE strongly condemns attack on bus station in Jerusalem |url=https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2023/2/10/10-02-2023-uae |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=www.mofaic.gov.ae |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215230714/https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2023/2/10/10-02-2023-uae |url-status=live }}

European Union Ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev tweeted his horror and sadness and stated that "the EU strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism". UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert also issued public statements condemning the attack and extending their condolences to the families of the victims.{{Cite news |title=Jerusalem ramming: The world speaks out against killing of child, 20-year-old |language=en-US |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=11 February 2023 |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-731242 |access-date=2023-02-15 |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215230711/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-731242 |url-status=live }}

US Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, called on all concerned parties to avoid actions that would "aggravate the situation on the ground" and instead protect "the prospect of a political solution to the mounting security crises."