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Two Israelis Killed in Terror Attack Hours Before Shabbat
Israeli security forces stand at the scene of a shooting incident in southern Israel, where at least two people died.
Two Israelis were murdered and four seriously injured just hours before Shabbat in a brutal terrorist attack in southern Israel.
The attack took place at the Re’im Junction, near the southern town of Gadera just outside of Ashdod. According to police, the terrorist approached the intersection, where he made a quick U-turn towards the direction of the bus stop, where he proceeded to begin shooting innocent civilians. The terrorist was dressed “ISIS-style” according to the police – having a large beard and white cap. He was killed by an armed civilian shortly after the shooting began.
“This attack reminds us that the whole country is a front and that the murderers, who come not only from Gaza, want to kill us all,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will continue to fight until complete victory with all our strength, on every front, everywhere, until we restore security and peace to all citizens of Israel,”
Police said the killer, named as Fadi Jamjoom, was from the Shufat refugee camp in east Jerusalem, where he traveled from Friday morning.
“I was sitting at the entrance to a garage near the scene of the incident and I heard gunshots very close to me,” said Ari Rosenstein, a Magen David Adom first responder who arrived on the scene. “I immediately ran to the scene and noticed a very difficult scene. I noticed at the bus station and near it a number of injured people lying unconscious. We tried to fight for [the life of one who perished] and evacuated him to the hospital while doing CPR. Another young man about 20 years old was unconscious, and a boy about 16 years old and a man about 65 years old were conscious and suffered from penetrating and severe injuries. A 65-year-old woman was also injured and her condition was defined as moderate. A 52-year-old man who managed to escape from the scene called us near the nearby settlement of Yad Binyamin, he was conscious and suffered from a penetrating injury to his body, and we also evacuated him to the hospital as his condition is moderate and stable.”
The civilian who killed the terrorist, who is currently serving in the reserves, told Israeli media “I was on the other side of the road, I saw him shooting and I ran with a gun drawn. I charged at him, first I shot from a distance and then I reduced the distance to him. I advanced towards him while I was shooting, then I reached him and made sure he was neutralized.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been attacked for increasing the approval rate of gun licenses, arrived at the scene of the attack, telling reporters “This event once again proved the concept that guns save lives. We know that in the last month there has been criticism of a very broad policy of distributing weapons, today it has been proven that weapons save people’s lives. Not only did we not submit to criticism, but I will expand and increase our policy to allow Israeli citizens to arm themselves – these weapons save people. We have a police force that works very hard, police officers who give their lives, who cannot be everywhere and anywhere, and we have here a citizen who was a security guard in the past who saves other people’s lives.”
War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz offered his condolences of X, writing “We are fighting for our lives in this country. The prices are difficult, but we are determined. Together, we will break the spirit of terror of our enemies.”
The post Two Israelis Killed in Terror Attack Hours Before Shabbat first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.