Palestinians celebrate murder of Jews by handing out sweets, mosque loudspeakers scream ‘Allahu akbar’

As Palestinians step up terrorist activities following Friday’s deadly attack on synagogue in Jerusalem, Israeli security forces have raised the “national alert to its highest level,” the Times of Israel reported Saturday.

The Israeli police made a series of arrests in connection with the synagogue shooting which resulted in the killing of at least seven Jews outside an East Jerusalem synagogue during the sabbath. The terrorist gunman, identified as a 21-year-old East Jerusalem resident, was killed by the security forces as he tried to flee from the scene.

The Israeli new website Ynet reported the ongoing police operation:

The police announced that in the framework of the investigation of the terror attack that took place in Jerusalem on Friday, 42 suspects were arrested in overnight raids. Amongst them are family members, friends, and acquaintances of the terrorist. The investigators will look into the relationship between the suspects and the deceased terrorist, and their potential involvement in the attack.

The Israeli military was also beefing up its troop presence in Israel’s Judea and Samaria region. “Following an IDF situational assessment, it was decided to reinforce the Judea and Samaria (West Bank) Division with an additional battalion,” the military said.

Crowds in several Palestinian cities were seen distributing sweets and coming together in “joyful” processions to celebrate the killing of innocent Jewish worshipers in the Holy City, media reports say.

“Palestinians held spontaneous rallies to celebrate the killings in Gaza and across the West Bank, including in Ramallah where large crowds swarmed the streets chanting and waving Palestinian flags,” the TV channel France24 reported.

Videos posted on Twitter showed Palestinians jubilantly shouting “Allahu akbar” as they cheered the latest act of terrorism against Israeli Jews.

Similar jihad war-cries of “Allahu akbar” could be heard from loudspeakers mounted on Palestinian mosques.

This is what ‘Allahu Akbar’ means. These are Palestinians celebrating the murder of 7 innocent Jews who were peacefully praying in a synagogue. #Jerusalem #Israel pic.twitter.com/yd0E54SknT

— Vijeta Uniyal (@iUniyal) January 28, 2023

“Palestinian gunman kills 7 near Jerusalem synagogue,” by Josef Federman and Isabel Debre, Associated Press, January 28, 2023:

At several locations across the Gaza Strip, dozens of Palestinians gathered in spontaneous demonstrations to celebrate the Jerusalem attack, with some coming out of dessert shops with large trays of sweets to distribute.

In downtown Gaza City, celebratory gunfire could be heard, as cars honked and calls of “God is great!” wafted from mosque loudspeakers. In various West Bank towns, Palestinians launched fireworks.

“The Jerusalem operation is a natural response to the Jenin massacre,” said Mohammed Hamadeh, a spokesperson for Hamas. “Our people don’t forget the blood of their martyrs and avenge their death at the appropriate time and place.”

Palestinian terrorist groups, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), hailed the murder of unarmed Jews in the Holy City as “resistance” and praised the slain terrorist for his “heroic operation.” “Palestinian factions welcome Jerusalem ‘heroic operation,’” by Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post, January 28, 2023:

Hamadeh said the Palestinians were “united behind the resistance.” He added: “The battle with the occupation is a long one. Our people will continue the path of resistance as a strategic option to achieve their aspirations.” (…)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the second largest terror group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas, welcomed the “heroic operation” in Neve Yaakov, saying it sends a message to Israel that the Palestinians are ready to respond to its crimes.

“This operation came at the right time and place to avenge the blood of the martyrs in the Jenin camp and the West Bank,” PIJ said. “It came as a natural and legitimate response to the crimes of the occupation and the violations against the holy sites.”