14-Year-Old Killed And 3 Injured After Bus Rams Protesters Twice In Yerushalayim

A 13-year-old boy was tragically killed and three other protesters were injured Tuesday night after a public bus twice drove into demonstrators during an anti-draft rally in Yerushalayim. Police say the incident is still under investigation but have determined that the attack was not terrorism-related.

The first incident took place on Yirmiyahu–Shamgar streets, where protesters were standing on the roadway. According to initial findings, the same bus carried out another ramming in the area, striking protesters and continuing to drive before coming to a stop. Video footage from the scene shows the bus accelerating toward demonstrators and running over several people.

United Hatzalah paramedics and EMTs arrived quickly and provided emergency treatment to multiple victims. One protester was pronounced dead after being trapped beneath the bus, while three others suffered injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were treated at the scene before being evacuated to hospitals.

Police confirmed that the driver, an Arab man, was arrested and taken in for questioning. During his interrogation, the driver claimed that protesters attempted to force their way onto the bus, prompting him to drive forward. Law enforcement officials have not confirmed this version of events.

Charedi officials expressed grief and outrage. In a statement, Shas said: “We are deeply shocked by the serious incident of a bus ramming in Jerusalem, in which a young Charedi man was run over to death during a demonstration. The difficult scenes of the bus driver driving wildly through a crowd of people, while dragging the man dozens of meters, are horrifying and shocking and must not be passed over in silence. We demand from the police an immediate, thorough and uncompromising investigation, and full justice for those responsible. Charedi blood is not hefker!”

United Torah Judaism’s head Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf said: “We call on the police to bring the driver to justice with the utmost severity, and to examine all aspects of the investigation to ensure that justice is done. It is impossible to pass over the agenda of loss of control and harm to human life”