Hamas praises Jerusalem stabbing, links attack to prison break

Hamas and Islamic Jihad praise a Palestinian stabbing attack near Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station that left two Israelis moderately wounded.

The stabber, Basil Shawamra, is in critical condition in Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem.

In a statement, Hamas deems the stabbing a “heroic operation.” The terror group adds that an apparent rise in stabbings is due to the media firestorm generated by the escape of six Palestinian security prisoners from Israeli jail; four have been re-arrested by Israel.

“Sustaining the clash with the Zionist occupation and escalating the pace of operations by various means is the best option to confront the Zionist occupation,” al-Qanou says.

Islamic Jihad spokesperson Daoud Shehab says: “Acts of resistance are the legitimate right of the Palestinian people, and we bless and support this jihadist act.”