Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Thursday's terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, which claimed the lives of three Israelis and wounded some 15, one critically.
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Abbas said that continued killings of Israelis and Palestinians would only cause the current security situation to deteriorate.
"We aspire to secure stability, especially during the month of Ramadan and the Christian and Jewish holidays," a statement published by Abbas' office read.
However, the PA leader warned about "repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and provocations by groups of extremist settlers."
He also said that "violence underscores that a comprehensive, just peace is the best and shortest way to ensuring security and stability for both peoples and the other peoples in the region."
While Abbas officially condemned the attack, his Fatah movement welcomed it and blamed Israel for recent escalation.
Following a situation assessment Friday morning, Israel's security forces decided to keep the Gilboa crossing to Jenin closed until further notice.
Early Friday morning, Ra'ad Hazem, 28, from the Jenin area who had been living in Israel illegally, was killed by security forces early Friday morning following a massive manhunt.
The Shin Bet security agency said security forces eventually cornered Hazem in a mosque in Jaffa, where he was killed in an exchange of fire. There were no casualties or wounded on the Israeli side.
"After a difficult night, and after long hours of activity by police, the army and the Shin Bet, we succeeded this morning, through intelligence and operational cooperation, to close the circle and to kill the terrorist in a shootout," Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said.
"We emphasized last night that no matter how long it took we would find the terrorist, dead or alive. And when we found him this morning it required a quick reaction from the Yamam [national counter-terrorism unit] and Shin Bet forces in Jaffa.
"We operated along two main axes, operational and intelligence, and this [Friday] morning both led to the end of this operation. We are continuing with our top-level alert for the Israel Police in all regions and sectors, including the safeguarding of the first Friday prayers of Ramadan [in Jerusalem]," he added. "We will react with a large deployment and force to any unusual instances as we did in Tel Aviv and we will hunt anyone who harms or tries to harm the citizens of Israel."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was updated regularly on the developments overnight. His office said he would hold a situation assessment at 8:30 a.m. with the participation of Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, and the heads of the defense establishment.
The attack took place around 9 p.m. when Magen David Adom's emergency hotline received calls of a shooting in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street, a bustling nightlife center lined with restaurants and bars.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the terrorist started the attack on Dizengoff Street, near a pub, and then jumped over a wall and continued in the direction of Hirschenberg Street.
First responders and security forces immediately deployed to the scene. Defense sources said that over 1,000 troops, including IDF and police special forces, Border Police, Mounted Police, and counterterrorism troops rushed to the scene, embarking on a massive search for the terrorist. The mission is headed by the Shin Bet security agency.
Nine people were rushed to nearby hospitals. The Sourasky Medical Center in the city treated two critically wounded victims, who died shortly after their arrival. Four others were in critical condition and undergoing surgery, the hospital said. One man in moderate condition was rushed to Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Ramat Gan, and two victims who sustained minor injuries were taken to the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
The Sourasky Medical Centers on Friday morning said it was continuing to treat eight people wounded, including a man in critical condition still facing "an immediate danger to his life."
According to the hospital, three others who were in critical condition last night "were no longer in danger" and are being treated in ICUs.
The other four are listed as being lightly to moderately wounded.
The police had asked residents in the area to stay inside while the manhunt was in progress. In a highly unusual move, the Transportation Ministry temporarily halted all public transportation in the city center, in compliance with police orders, Channel 12 News reported.
Shabtai and Barlev arrived at the scene around 9:30 p.m., as did Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. Bennett and Gantz arrived at the IDF's headquarters in Tel Aviv and were briefed on the manhunt. Shortly before midnight, Bennett held a security situation assessment with top defense officials.
Israeli media reported that security camera footage of the terrorist showed that he was armed with a gun and fired 12 bullets before fleeing the scene.
'We stand by Israel'
"Horrified to see another cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians, this time in Tel Aviv. Praying for peace, and sending condolences to the victims and their families. This has to stop!" US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Tom Nides tweeted.
Horrified to see another cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians, this time in Tel Aviv. Praying for peace, and sending condolences to the victims and their families. This has to stop!
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) April 7, 2022
British Ambassador to Israel Neil Wigan tweeted, "I am shocked by the reports of tonight's shooting attacks in Tel Aviv. It's horrible to see innocent civilians fleeing under fire again. We stand by Israel as it deals with these attacks."
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland tweeted, "Appalled by another heinous attack this evening in TelAviv. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims & wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Deplore the welcoming of this attack by Hamas; there is no glory in terror. These acts must stop now & be condemned by all."
The European Union's Ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev condemned the attack, saying, "The EU stands with Israel."
Deeply worried about reports about another terror attack against Israeli civilians, this time in the heart of Tel Aviv. Appalling. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. The EU stands with Israel
— Dimiter Tzantchev (@DTzantchev) April 7, 2022
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, "Deeply shocked by the reports of another heinous terror attack in the heart of Tel Aviv. As police operation is still ongoing our thoughts are with the victims and their families of the appalling attack. In these dark hours we stand by the people of Israel."
The recent wave of terrorism has been characterized by shooting attacks, with deadly incidents in Beersheba, Hadera, and Bnei Brak claiming the lives of 11 Israelis, including a policeman and two Border Police officers, in March.
Tensions ahead of Ramadan have been rising, and the police are on high alert nationwide, especially in Jerusalem, where Friday prayers will usher in the holy Muslim month.
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Palestinian terrorist groups lauded the attack but stopped short of claiming it.
"This is a natural, legitimate response to the escalation of the occupation's crimes against our people," Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, said in a statement.
"Our people will not allow the continued terror and crimes of the occupation and its attempts to Judaize Jerusalem and violate the Al-Aqsa Mosque to build their temple on Passover. Our opposition will stand up to anyone who thinks of harming our holy places, as you will see in the coming days."
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad said, "We welcome the extraordinary heroic attack in the heart of Tel Aviv. The return of such heroic attacks in the depths of the Zionist entity is a natural result of the Zionist aggression that has crossed all lines."
Over in the West Bank, members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah's military wing, were giving out candy on the streets. The group, however, made no official comment on the attack, local media reported.
Lilach Shoval, Yaron Doron, Dan Lavie, and Shlomi Diaz contributed to this report.
