Jerusalem Attack: Hamas Warn of New 'Palestinian Intifada' in Holy City

Hamas has warned of a new "Palestinian intifada" in Jerusalem following the latest unrest in reaction to a hit-and-run attack at a rail station that killed a three-month-old baby and injured eight others.

Following the incident, 21-year-old Abdel Rahman al-Shaludi, from East Jerusalem, was shot and killed by Israeli police as he fled the scene on foot.

Hamas defended Shaludi's action as an "act of heroism" against the "[Israeli] occupation against our people and our holy places".

"The attack in Jerusalem is an act of heroism and a natural response to the crimes of the occupation against our people and our holy places," said Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas spokesperson.

Another Hamas official, Salah Baradwil, said: "The attack in Jerusalem is a natural response to what is taking place in the city, given the harassment and overall attacks of Judaization affecting our holy places and Muslims."

In clashes after the attack, 19 Palestinians - two in Jerusalem and 17 in the West Bank - were arrested with Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld reporting "heightened security in Jerusalem".

Stones were thrown towards Israeli forces who "responded by dispersing the throwers using dispersal methods, without reports of injuries," according to Israeli police.

Another Gaza-based militant faction, Islamic Jihad, released a statement also defending the actions of Shaludi.

"There is Zionist aggression against all of our people, and today the resistance responded to this attack. This is a natural right.

"This attack is a strong response to the Israeli occupation, whose crimes are unable to break the resistance," the organisation said in the statement.

Both groups praised East Jerusalemites "for their fierce stance against the crimes of the occupation."