Israeli Civilian Yuval Doron Castleman Dies in Shooting Attack by Palestinian Terrorists

An Israeli civilian who shot at two Palestinian terrorists during a morning attack in Jerusalem has died from his injuries. The incident occurred at a bus stop in the city when two Palestinians arrived in a vehicle and began shooting at commuters during rush hour. The 37-year-old attorney, Yuval Doron Castleman, along with two off-duty soldiers, managed to kill the terrorists, but Castleman was wounded in the process. Unfortunately, Castleman’s death brings the total death toll from the attack to four.

Among the victims were 73-year-old Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, a judge in the rabbinical court in Ashdod, 67-year-old Hanna Ifergan, the principal of a girl’s school in Beit Shemesh, and 24-year-old Livia Dickman from Jerusalem. Five other individuals are currently hospitalized due to their injuries.

The two terrorists have been identified as Murad Nemer and his brother, Ibrahim, both associated with Hamas. They had previously been imprisoned for their involvement in terror activities. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed that Murad had served a ten-year prison sentence for planning attacks under the direction of terror commanders in Gaza.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on the messaging app Telegram. In response, the Nemers’ home was mapped out for demolition by the police on the night of the incident. The police have also increased patrols in the city due to the renewal of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, emphasized that the attack strengthened Israel’s determination to continue its fight against Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir highlighted the need to ease gun permits following the incident, as there has been a surge in requests for gun licenses since Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

Ben-Gvir stated, “This event proves once again how much we must not show weakness, how much we should talk to Hamas only through the intentions, only through the war.” He further emphasized the importance of distributing weapons, stating that they save lives and can protect citizens, policemen, and soldiers in such situations.