November 2014 Jerusalem vehicular attack

{{Infobox terrorist attack

|title=November 2014 Jerusalem vehicular attack

|caption=

|map= {{location map|width=275|border=infobox|Jerusalem#Israel jerusalem#Israel

|lat_deg=31|lat_min=47|lat_sec=35.88|lat_dir=N

|lon_deg=35|lon_min=13|lon_sec=34.68|lon_dir=E

|caption=The attack site

}}

|location=Jerusalem

|target=

|date=5 November 2014

|time-begin=

|time-end=

|timezone=

|type=Vehicular attack

|fatalities=4 (including the attacker)

|injuries=13

|perps=Ibrahim al-Akri

}}

On 5 November 2014, in a terrorist ramming attack, a Hamas operative{{cite news|title=LIVE: Terror attack in Jerusalem kills 1, terrorist shot dead|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4588371,00.html|access-date=5 November 2014|date=5 November 2014|last = Dvir|newspaper = Ynetnews|first = Noam}} deliberately drove a van at high speed into a crowd of people waiting at the Shimon HaTzadik light rail station in the Arzei HaBira neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Attack

The perpetrator drove his van into a crowd of people at a light rail stop then left his van and attacked nearby pedestrians with a metal crowbar.{{cite news |last1=Eisenbud |first1=Daniel K. |date=5 November 2014 |title=Terror in Jerusalem: One dead as Palestinian driver rams van into crowded light rail station |work=The Jerusalem Post |url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Car-slams-into-pedestrians-in-Jerusalem-in-suspected-terror-attack-380834 |access-date=5 November 2014}} Police and Border Police forces said the perpetrator came at them with the crowbar, and in response shot the driver, killing him.{{Cite news |last=Kershner |first=Isabel |date=5 November 2014 |title=Driver Plows Into Pedestrians Near Jerusalem Train Station |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/world/middleeast/jerusalem-driver-plows-into-pedestrians.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416143600/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/world/middleeast/jerusalem-israel-jordan-palestinians.html |archive-date=16 April 2015}} Three people were killed, and 13 others were wounded.

Perpetrator

The perpetrator, Ibrahim al-Akri, was a resident of Shuafat, held Israeli citizenship, and was a known supporter of Hamas. His brother, Musa al-Akri, was a member of the Hamas cell that murdered border policeman Nissim Toledano in 1992. He was released from Israeli prison in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange and exiled to Turkey.{{Cite news |date=6 November 2014 |title=In wake of attacks, concrete blocks to protect light rail stations |work=Israel HaYom |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/judaism/judaism-news/article/13781157}} The attack comes shortly after Ibrahim al-Akari was released from prison due to security concerns.{{Cite news|url = https://www.foxnews.com/world/police-1-dead-after-car-rams-jerusalem-train-platform-in-terror-attack/|title = Police: 1 dead after car rams Jerusalem train platform in terror attack|date = 5 November 2014|work = Fox News|access-date = 5 November 2014}} His family stated that his "martyrdom" was in response to the recent issues involving the Temple Mount.{{Cite web |last=Toameh |first=Khaled Abu |date=5 November 2014 |title=Family of slain terrorist 'proud' of Jerusalem attack, Al-Acri's 'martyrdom' |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/family-of-slain-terrorist-proud-of-jerusalem-attack-al-acris-martyrdom-380890 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} His funeral was attended by thousands of Palestinians holding signs calling al-Akri a hero and a martyr, as well as calling for the death to more Israel Defense Forces' soldiers.{{Cite web |last=Sharon |first=Itamar |date=7 November 2014 |title=Riots erupt in capital as thousands mourn slain terrorist |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/security-forces-brace-for-violence-ahead-of-friday-prayers/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Times of Israel |language=en-US}}

Victims

The first man killed was identified as Border Police officer Jedan Assad, 38, from the Druze village of Beit Jann. Assad was a father to a three-year-old boy, and his wife was five months pregnant with their second child at the time of his death.{{cite news|last1=Ho|first1=Spencer|title=Thousands attend funeral of slain Border Police officer|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-attend-funeral-of-slain-border-police-officer/|access-date=6 November 2014|publisher=Times of Israel|date=6 November 2014}} President Reuven Rivlin visited the family, describing Assad as "a devoted family man, a tremendous soldier", and calling the Druze community "an inseparable part of the Israeli experience".{{cite news |last1= |date=7 November 2014 |title=Rivlin: Druze 'An Inseparable Part of Israeli Experience' |publisher=Arutz Sheva |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187180#.VGuV3ofXOHk |access-date=18 November 2014}}

Shalom Aharon Baadani, 17, died from his wounds in the Hadassah Medical Center two days later.{{Cite web |title=Teen hurt in Jerusalem light rail attack succumbs to wounds |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/teen-hurt-in-jerusalem-light-rail-attack-succumbs-to-wounds-381095 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=7 November 2014 |language=en-US}} Baadani was riding his bicycle at the time of the attack when he was struck by the moving vehicle.{{Cite news |last1=Dvir |first1=Noam |last2=Nahshoni |first2=Kobi |date=2014-11-06 |title=Anonymous terror victim identified using cellphone |language=en |work=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4588872,00.html |access-date=2023-04-20}}

Abd al-Karim Nafith Hamid, 60, from Anata in the West Bank died of his injuries on 7 December. He had been cared for at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center since the attack.{{cite news|last1=Newman|first1=Marissa|title=Palestinian victim of Jerusalem car-ramming attack dies|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-victim-of-jerusalem-car-ramming-attack-dies/#ixzz3LK1FGRHE|access-date=8 December 2014|publisher=Times of Israel|date=8 December 2014}}

In addition to the deaths, several other people, including police officers, suffered varying injuries. According to Magen David Adom, a total of 10 people were injured, with one in critical condition, two seriously, three moderately, and four with slight wounds.{{Cite news|url = http://www.timesofisrael.com/driver-plows-into-jerusalem-crowd-in-suspected-terror-attack/|title = 1 killed as driver plows into Jerusalem crowd in terror attack|last = Ho|first = Spencer|date = 5 November 2014|work = The Times of Israel|access-date = 5 November 2014}}

Response

Jerusalem police placed concrete barriers at light rail stations to prevent future attacks.

In response to the attack, Jordan announced that they will be recalling their ambassador to Israel due to the unrest. Additionally, they will be filling a motion with the United Nations Security Council over the continued unrest in Jerusalem.{{Cite news |last1=Eglash |first1=Ruth |last2=Booth |first2=William |date=5 November 2014 |title=Palestinian attacker rams car into Jerusalem rail line; 1 killed |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2014/11/05/b4d7b614-64ef-11e4-bb14-4cfea1e742d5_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106121649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2014/11/05/b4d7b614-64ef-11e4-bb14-4cfea1e742d5_story.html |archive-date=6 November 2014}}

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack{{Cite news|url = http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-takes-responsibility-for-jerusalem-van-attack/|title = Hamas takes responsibility for Jerusalem van attack|last = Winer|first = Stuart|date = 5 November 2014|work = The Times of Israel|access-date = 5 November 2014}} and called the driver a martyr who succeeded in his "heroic operation."{{Cite web |last=Toameh |first=Khaled Abu |date=5 November 2014 |title=Hamas claims Jerusalem terror attack, calls on Palestinians 'to defend al-Aksa' |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-praises-jerusalem-terror-attack-calls-on-palestinians-to-defend-al-aksa-380841 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} Hamas also called on the Palestinian people to continue such attacks against Israel in defense of al-Aksa.

Aqari's 16-year-old son said, "When I got home, I heard about the attack and I was very happy." Aqari's wife described her husband's motive for going on a killing spree, saying, "From the morning hours he kept close watch on what was happening at Al-Aqsa. He saw the blood, the wounded, the desecration and everything that was going on. He quickly left the house and went to the place of the attack to earn a place for himself among the shahids [martyrs] and heroes."{{Cite web |last=Eldar |first=Shlomi |date=November 6, 2014 |title=The third intifada is here |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2014/11/third-intifada-jerusalem-violence-temple-mount-religious-war.html |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Al-Monitor |language=en}}

John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State, spoke out against the attack, calling for peacemakers to control the peace process.{{Cite web |last=Wilner |first=Michael |date=5 November 2014 |title=Kerry says Jerusalem attack an atrocity 'making matters worse' |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/kerry-says-jerusalem-attack-an-atrocity-making-matters-worse-380879 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}