(DailyVantage.com) – The Holocaust is one of the world’s greatest tragedies. Approximately 11 million people lost their lives. International Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place on January 27 each year to honor the lost lives. However, this year proved to be a deadly day in Israel.
Terrorist Attacks
On Friday, January 27, as people were leaving a synagogue, a terrorist opened fire, killing seven people and injuring at least three more. According to a press release on Representative Brad Sherman’s (D-CA) website, Commissioner of Israel Police Yaakov Shabtai said it was “one of the worst terror attacks in the past few years.” The shooting occurred in the Neve Yaakov settlement on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Police were able to neutralize the attacker — reportedly an east Jerusalem man — who fled in a vehicle. One of the victims who lost her life was a 70-year-old woman.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a statement by President Isaac Herzog calling on citizens to “maintain [their] unity” as well as “remain alert and act responsibly in these times.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were no plans to escalate the situation.
The White House and Department of State also released statements condemning the attacks and reaffirming the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and to help bring the attackers to justice.
This attack was the deadliest incident in Israel in more than 10 years. A prior shooting in 2008 resulted in the deaths of eight people in Jerusalem.
Yet, the violence didn’t end there. A 13-year-old opened fire on a father and son in another attack on Saturday, seriously wounding them. The incident prompted the Foreign Ministry to blast terrorist organizations using children to commit their crimes.
Several Murdered In Terrorist Attacks Targeting Israel On Holocaust Remembrance Day https://t.co/euITZRGble pic.twitter.com/NlsBhXHCmR
— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) January 28, 2023
West Bank Violence
The West Bank has seen a seemingly endless cycle of violence over the years in what seems to be a never-ending conflict between Palestine and Israel. Prior to the shooting that claimed seven lives, Israeli military forces carried out a raid responsible for killing nine Palestinians. In retaliation, insurgents from Gaza fired multiple rockets, resulting in retaliatory strikes.
Nobody claimed responsibility for the January 27 shooting, though ABC News reports a spokesperson for the Hamas militant group acknowledged it as “revenge and natural response” to the previous day’s events.
In terms of violence, last year was one of the worst, with almost 150 Palestinians losing their lives, the highest number since 2004. In 2023, at least 30 have perished so far, per the Associated Press.
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