Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem

Following the terrorist attack in Jerusalem on September 8, 2025, in which six people were killed on a bus, Fr. Piotr Zelazko, Patriarchal Vicar for the Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel, expressed deep sorrow and shock. He strongly condemned the violence and emphasized the importance of not giving in to fear or hatred.

“We are all in shock,” he said, “but we must remain human. We must continue to live, pursue peace and dialogue, and reject anger and hatred.” He also called for the release of hostages and an end to hostilities, urging people to stay united in humanity despite the pain.

The original article (in Italian) was published: HERE.

Here is the translation into English:

"Firm condemnation" but also a strong call "to remain human": this is how Father Piotr Zelazko, Patriarchal Vicar of the Vicariate of St. James of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (which includes seven Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities in Israel), commented to SIR on this morning's attack on a bus in Jerusalem, carried out by two Palestinian terrorists, in which six people were killed, in addition to the two attackers.

"We are all in shock," said the Polish-born priest. "Once again, there are innocent victims. Now we are witnessing a large-scale deployment of security forces aimed at restoring a sense of safety to the people of Jerusalem. These are tense moments, as everyone is trying to get news from their loved ones and friends, hoping they are safe. We firmly condemn this brutal act and call for an end to hostilities and the release of hostages. We must not succumb to fear or remain paralyzed; that would be a victory for terrorism. Instead, we must continue living our lives, pursuing peace and dialogue, and rejecting anger, hatred, and resentment. We must remain human."

According to initial reports from Israeli security authorities, the two terrorists boarded the bus and opened fire on civilians, resulting in six deaths—one of whom was a Spanish national—and around a dozen injuries. The attackers were then killed by a soldier who happened to be at the scene.

Hamas praised the attack on Telegram, calling it "a heroic action, a natural response to the crimes of the occupation." Israel responded strongly: in a post on X, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that today's "atrocious" terrorist attack would have "grave and far-reaching consequences." After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the dismantling of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The PNA, in an official statement, reiterated "its firm position in rejecting and condemning any attack against Palestinian and Israeli civilians and denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source."