Palestinian gunman wounds eight, including five Americans and pregnant woman, in Jerusalem
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad both praised the attack
At least eight people, including five Americans, are injured after a Palestinian gunman opened fire early Sunday morning near the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
An armed terrorist shot at a bus and vehicles in the Old City around 1:30 a.m., Israeli police said.
The suspect, identified by The Jerusalem Post as Amir Sidawi, turned himself in following a manhunt. While officials said Sidawi, a resident of east Jerusalem, has a criminal background, it is unclear whether he is connected to a terrorist group.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) both condemned the attack and confirmed that five Americans were injured.
A woman who was shot underwent an emergency cesarean operation and both she and her baby, which is one of the eight injured, are in serious condition, Shaare Zedek Hospital stated.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the latter of which was targeted in an anti-terrorism operation earlier this week, both praised the attack.
Hamas said the "heroic and courageous operation" was “a natural reaction to the arrogance of the occupation soldiers and settlers and their daily crimes against the Palestinian people and their Islamic and Christian lands and holy sites, as well as their ongoing and their ongoing incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque," according to The Jerusalem Post.
"The occupation must pay the price for its continuing crimes against our people, from Gaza to Jenin and Nablus," Islamic Jihad spokesman Tareq Ezzadin said.