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CNN —
An Israeli reservist who survived the massacre at Israel’s Nova festival after confronting two gunmen behind Tuesday’s shooting and stabbing in Tel Aviv has been hailed as a “hero” by the country’s security minister. Ta.
The attack on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa, a port area south of Tel Aviv, left seven people dead and 16 injured, Israeli police said.
The incident occurred minutes before Iran fired a barrage of about 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in its largest attack to date, sending sirens blaring across the country and sending residents fleeing to air raid shelters.
A video posted online showed Lev Kreitman, who served six months in the Israeli military reservists in Gaza, firing a gun at an unknown target and fleeing. The footage, shot from a building near Jaffa, appears to show Kreitman wearing a pink shirt, white shorts and flip-flops.
Another video showed Kreitman walking behind Israeli soldiers at the scene of the attack.
Kleitman told CNN affiliate Channel 11 that he continued to carry his personal handgun even after serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Recalling Tuesday’s incident, he recalled how he spotted what he described as “two terrorists”, one of whom was coming towards him.
“The other one goes somewhere, runs somewhere, and I’m here, right where we’re standing, I surprised him from the side, shot him,” Kleitman said. , adding that he immediately realized it was an attack.
“In the midst of warnings, missiles, interceptions in the air, we tried to do the best we could in a very crazy situation,” he said.
Kleitman survived the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7th. The Trance festival in Israel’s southern Negev desert was one of the targets of the extremist group’s rampage, with around 1,200 people killed and 250 others kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
Israel’s ensuing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 41,000 people, caused a humanitarian catastrophe, and left much of the Palestinian enclave in ruins.
Police said Wednesday that two gunmen began a “serial killing spree” by opening fire on passengers on a parked tram at a station in Jaffa. Police said they then continued their attack on foot on Jerusalem Boulevard.
Police added that the attackers were thwarted by security forces and civilians using personal firearms. “They were in possession of M-16 type weapons, cartridges and knives,” police said in a statement.
Medics said they treated victims at several locations on Jerusalem Boulevard, including near the railroad tracks, on the street, in a synagogue and in a butcher’s shop. The wounded were rushed to hospital as air raid sirens sounded throughout the region and across Israel.
Israeli authorities identified the gunmen as Muhammad Masuku, 19, who died at the scene, and Ahmed Himoni, 25, who was seriously injured. Police said the two were residents of the Palestinian city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas later claimed responsibility for the attack.
After the incident, the Israel Security Service and the Israel Defense Forces arrested a number of suspects on suspicion of helping insurgents buy weapons and enter Israel, police said.
Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, in a post on He said he acted “bravely” and saved the lives of the victims. Ben Gvir called on more Israelis to take up arms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Tuesday’s attack and offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
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