The attack began in the ultra-Orthodox town of Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv, before continuing and ending near the Ramat Gan entrance.
A police spokesman said a preliminary investigation found at least one attacker used an assault rifle on civilians in multiple locations before being killed by local police forces. It is unclear whether one of the dead was an attacker.
The attacker was Dia Hamarsheh, 27, from a village near Jenin in the West Bank, according to Israeli police.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades — the armed wing of the Palestinian Fatah movement — claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was “a clear message written in blood in response to the Negev summit,” referring to that historic meeting previously hosted by Israel this week with foreign ministers from four Arab countries and the United States.
Police said in a statement that a police officer associated with the attacker was among the five dead. Two Ukrainian citizens were also killed in the shooting. According to Israeli media, the Ukrainian victims were not refugees and had been in the country before the start of the Russian war against their country.
The attack came the day after a landmark regional summit in Israel’s Negev desert that brought together top diplomats from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, Israel and the United States to discuss security issues.
The death toll from Tuesday’s attack brings the number of people killed in such attacks over the past week to 11.
Four people were killed in a stabbing and ramming attack by a man previously arrested for supporting IS in the southern city of Be’er Sheva last Tuesday.
On Sunday, two IS-affiliated attackers killed two and wounded six in a shootout in Hadera, about 50 kilometers north of Tel Aviv.
In a tweet, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that “Israel is facing a wave of murderous Arab terrorism.”
“My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones tonight and I pray for the well being of the wounded,” he wrote. “The security forces are working. We will fight terror with perseverance, tenacity and an iron fist. They won’t take us away from here.”
Israeli police have been placed on high alert, according to a police spokesman, who said all district task force headquarters will deal with ongoing security – meaning the police will halt most of their other activities and focus on counter-terrorism , Presence continues the streets and civil security.
In addition, the Israel Police Commissioner ordered the reinforcement of thousands of police officers to secure educational institutions, main stations and crowded places.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also announced that they would send additional troops to the West Bank.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack on Israeli civilians in a statement, saying that “killing Palestinian and Israeli civilians only serves to further worsen the situation as we all strive for stability, especially when we are united.” approaching the holy month of Ramadan and the Christian and Jewish holidays.”
The statement also said: “Abbas warned against using this condemned incident to carry out attacks and responses by settlers and others against our Palestinian people,” adding that “the cycle of violence confirms that it is more enduring, comprehensive and just.” Peace is the shortest and right way to ensure security and stability for the Palestinian and Israeli people and the people of the region.”
However, Palestinian militant groups such as Islamic Jihad praised the attack. Hamas called the attack a “heroic” operation, while the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said it was “a clear message written in blood in response to the Negev summit,” referring to the meeting of foreign dignitaries.
ISIS claimed responsibility for both the Be’er Sheva and Hadera attacks. ISIS had not claimed responsibility for an attack in Israel since 2017.
Separately, tensions between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem and the West Bank have risen, particularly as the coincident holidays of Ramadan, Passover and Easter draw closer. Last year, clashes and tensions in Jerusalem during this period helped spark the recent conflict with Hamas-led militants in Gaza.
Jerusalem has seen at least three knife attacks on Israelis since the beginning of the month, while in the West Bank at least nine Palestinians, including several teenagers, have been shot dead in clashes with Israeli forces in recent weeks.
Amir Tal, Elliot Gotkine, Mostafa Salem, and Lianne Kolirin contributed to this report.