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As Shabbat was coming to an end, and the Jewish world was preparing to celebrate the Sukkot holiday, violence erupted at a checkpoint in Jerusalem.
The attack occurred at the Shuafat checkpoint when the shooter exited a vehicle and opened fire. “The Times of Israel” reported the shooting took place at “near point-blank range.”
Even with the high-alert status that Israel has to assume during their holiday season, terrorist cells were able to ambush and wound a civilian security guard and kill 18-year-old Noa Lazar of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
SGT Noa Lazar was killed in a shooting attack at the Shu’afat checkpoint last night while protecting her country.
She was 18 years old.
SGT Lazar served in the Erez Battalion of the Military Police. After her death, she was promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2022
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid addressed the situation saying, “Our forces are spread out during the upcoming Sukkot holiday and are working day and night to protect the people of Israel. Terror will not prevail.
“There are no words that can ease this terrible loss. We will not rest until we bring these heinous murderers to justice,” he said.
The shooter is identified as 22-year-old Udai Tamimi and lives in the Shuafat refugee camp.
There is now a massive manhunt underway for Tamimi. As police and security forces began performing house-to-house searches for the suspect, Palestinians began assaulting them as the searches continued.
The driver of the vehicle was apprehended, but claimed he did not know that Tamimi was armed or what his plans were.
This is a common occurrence when dealing with terrorist cell organizations. Often, each cell is isolated from one another and is given a specific task by the shadowy leadership of the terrorist organization. In this case, like many others around the world, it is feasible that the driver had no clue what was going to occur because his orders were entirely different from Tamimi’s and was unable to give any helpful information to IDF forces because he had no information to give them.
Tensions have been high during what IDF have called “Operation Break the Wave.” The raids associated with the operation have been designed to anticipate possible terror attacks and prevent them before they occur.
This has led to the deaths of dozens of Palestinians associated with terror cells and hundreds of arrests.
The terrorist organization Hamas issued a statement regarding the attack, which they did not claim responsibility for, but blamed the actions of the Israeli government as the cause for open rebellion:
“These operations carry a message that the revolt of our people is in progress and will not subside and that the operations, shootings and gunfire of our youth in revolt will haunt the occupiers and herds of settlers everywhere in response to their crimes and their incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a statement of consolation to the family of Noa Lazar, who was posthumously promoted from Corporal to Sergeant after giving her life in service to Israel:
“Sending condolences to the grieving family of the IDF soldier, Sgt. Noa Lazar, for whom the joy of the holiday turned into terrible grief, and praying for the recovery of the injured from the shooting attack in Jerusalem.” {eao}
James Lasher is a Copy Editor for Charisma Media.
