In a tragic incident, three individuals were shot dead and at least six others critically injured at a bus stop in Jerusalem. The assailants, reportedly two attackers, opened fire, prompting a swift response from law enforcement who shot and killed the gunmen. Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that the perpetrators were affiliated with the organization.

This unsettling event follows the tragic killing of two Palestinian boys, aged 8 and 14, during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin just a day prior. Tensions in the region remain high as violence continues to escalate.

Meanwhile, Israel has extended a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for a seventh day. International mediators are actively engaged in negotiations to secure the release of additional hostages. On Wednesday, 12 Israeli and four Thai hostages held by Hamas returned to Israel, marking a complex exchange where 30 Palestinian women and teenage boys were freed from Israeli jails.

The backdrop of these developments dates back to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, resulting in the loss of 1,200 lives and approximately 240 individuals taken hostage. Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 14,800 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign, with about 6,000 of them being children. The situation remains fluid, with international efforts focused on de-escalation and finding a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict.