UPDATE 1240 GMT: Abd al-Rahman Shaloudi, the driver who allegedly ran over passengers disembarking from a train in Jerusalem on Wednesday, has died in hospital of gunshot wounds.
Shaloudi was apprehended by security forces after the hit-and-run attack, which killed a 3-month-old infant and injured eight other people.
The announcement of the death of Shaloudi, the nephew of a deceased head of Hamas’ military branch, may spur further protests throughout Jerusalem and the West Bank.
UPDATE 1230 GMT: Israeli security forces have dispersed protests throughout East Jerusalem, including the neighborhoods of Issawiya, at-Tur, Silwan, al-Ram, and Wadi al-Joz, as well as in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.
Four Israeli security personnel were reportedly wounded in scuffles, while one Palestinian teenager was injured in Wadi al-Joz.
Following calls by Hamas for protests throughout the West Bank, scuffles between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian protesters have been reported in Hebron and Qalandiya.
Israel’s security forces are on “high alert” throughout Jerusalem for Friday Prayers after a week of violence and tension between Jewish and Palestinian communities.
Police are continuing to limit entry to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to women, children, and men over 40 with Israeli identity cards. They warned they will show “zero tolerance” for unruly behavior.
Tensions have risen in East Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods over the rehousing of Israeli Jews in the area, and on Wednesday a resident of the Silwan district ran his car into passengers disembarking from a train, killing an infant and wounding eight other people.
After the attack, Israeli security forces raided the family home of the attacker and allegedly beat his father. Clashes followed with Palestinians who threw stones.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat called for a crackdown on Palestinians: “What we saw is another elevated level, of people running over a 3-month-old baby. We must fight violence and we will win that war.”
(Featured Photo: Nati Shohat/Flash90)
