2017 Jerusalem Truck Attack

On 8 January 2017, around 13:00 local time, a truck struck a group of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who were disembarking from a bus on the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in the East Talpiot neighborhood of East Jerusalem, near Trotner park and the UNTSO headquarters. The vehicle-ramming attack killed four soldiers and injured 15 others, two of them critically. The driver was shot dead at the scene by soldiers and by a civilian tour guide who used a personal handgun. Israeli officials described the incident as an act of terrorism.

The four soldiers killed were officer cadets and an officer studying at the Haim Laskov officers school: Lt. Yael Yekutiel, 20; Second Lt. Erez Orbach, 20; Lt. Shir Hajaj, 22; and Second Lt. Shira Tzur, 20. Their ranks reflect posthumous promotions. Initial reports, including from the civilian tour guide, suggested one soldier hesitated before firing, a hesitation some linked to the recent manslaughter conviction of Sgt. Elor Azaria. The IDF stated that at least two soldiers fired at the attacker and denied any connection to the Azaria case.

The perpetrator was a 28-year-old Arab citizen of Israel from the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem, driving a vehicle with an Israeli license plate. Reports indicated he had previously served time in jail and held Israeli citizenship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated hours after the attack that "all signs show he is a supporter of the Islamic State," a claim that drew questions about its basis. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman drew comparisons to ISIL-linked attacks in Germany and France. Critics argued the government was downplaying nationalist motivations behind Palestinian attacks. Later reporting indicated the perpetrator was described as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which claimed him as a member, while other reports alleged ISIL sympathies. On 9 January, a little-known group calling itself "The Martyr of Baha Alyan Collective" claimed responsibility, stating it acted on political motives, had no outside links, and warned of future attacks.

In the aftermath, nine suspects were taken into custody, including five members of the perpetrator's family — his wife, parents, and two siblings. The Israeli Cabinet met and decided that ISIS supporters would face administrative detention and that the perpetrator's family home would be demolished. Israeli forces reportedly began placing concrete obstacles around Jabel Mukaber, and shots were reported fired from the neighborhood toward Israeli Border Patrol.

The attack was condemned by the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and Norway, among others. Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza praised the attack as a legitimate response to Israeli actions. The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was illuminated with the Israeli flag in solidarity with the victims.