(January 28, 2023 / JNS) Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip held celebrations Friday night after seven people were killed in a terrorist shooting attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Neve Ya’akov neighborhood.

Israeli and Palestinian media reported festivities in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, as well as in Nablus, Jenin and Hebron.

There were also celebrations close to where the attack took place in the Israeli capital.

Video posted to social media showed Palestinians setting off fireworks, engaging in celebratory gunfire and honking horns, and crowds chanting in support of the killing of Jews.

Crowds also gathered throughout the Gaza Strip, where candy and other sweets were distributed to children.

Hamas praised the attack as an “appropriate response” to alleged Israeli crimes. Palestinian Islamic Jihad also hailed the massacre.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi ordered the reinforcement of troops in Judea and Samaria in preparation for a possible escalation in the wake of the Palestinian terrorist attack.

Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai similarly ordered the alert level in the capital raised to the highest level.

The moves were announced after a security assessment led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the scene of the attack.

“Our hearts go out to the families of the wounded and dead. We have assessed the situation and decided on some immediate actions. We will act decisively,” he said.

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