After a terrorist attack on Thursday night left two Israelis dead and a further 12 people injured, the family of the attacker have celebrated his actions, saying "victory will come soon."
Celebrations could be heard around the home of the terrorist Ra'ad Hazem in Jenin in the early hours of Friday morning.
The attack took place in Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv on Thursday night, with Hazem opening fire on drinkers at a bar in the heavily populated tourist area.
On Friday morning after the attack, members of terror organisations and the attacker's family praised the attack, which left two 27-year-old men dead.
The father of the terrorist, a former Authority security officer in Palestine was filmed saying, “you will see the victory soon… God, liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque from the occupiers.”
The uncle of the terrorist also celebrated his nephew on social media. In a Facebook post he said that he had joined other members of their family who had been killed in conflict with security forces.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, praised the attack saying: “The tel Aviv operation is a clear message to the occupation that it must stop its incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque.” They added that, additional “incursions” into al-Aqsa could result in “more resistance and ransom operations.”
Hamas branded the terrorist attack as a “natural and legitimate response to the escalation of the occupation’s crimes against our people, our land, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Hamas also added it will “not allow” the “continuation of the occupation’s terrorism and crimes, and its attempts to Judaize Jerusalem, and to make sacrifices in the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque to build their alleged temple, on the so-called Passover holiday.”
Fatima Ftouni, a journalist for the pro-Hezbollah Al-Mayadeen Ali Mortada, shared a video of Israelis fleeing the scene of the attack saying: “The occupier is destined to leave or die.”
Across social media, there have been videos of people celebrating in Ramallah, Jenin, Gaza and Lebanon with supporters of the attack beeping their car horns and some handing out sweets to passers-by.
Prime minister Naftali Bennett praised the work of the authorities in neutralising the attacker and said: “The entire nation of Israel mourns the grief of the families of those killed and prays for the health of the wounded. Our war on murderous terrorism is long and hard. We will win.”
