The number of injured was not immediately clear. Speaking on Israeli television, Essed put the number at more than a dozen. The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a restaurant on Dizengoff Street, a popular restaurant in the city center, an Israeli police chief said. Journalist Lauren Izso, at the scene shortly after the attack, estimates that hundreds of police officers were involved in securing the area and searching for the gunman. Speaking on Israeli television, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Holdai told residents to stay home. The two people killed were men who were both in their 30s, said emergency services spokesman Magen David Adom. Tel Aviv Ichilov Hospital, where most of the victims were transported, said doctors were fighting to save the lives of four people who were injured. The shootings are the latest in a series of violent incidents that have endangered Israel and the Palestinian territories. In just one week in March, 11 people were killed in three attacks in Israeli cities and towns. It was the deadliest week Israel has seen in years, and weeks of escalating tensions have seen Israelis targeted with knife attacks and several Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. The series of attacks included five people killed just east of Tel Aviv in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brack. It is unclear whether Thursday’s shooting was linked to recent violence. Fighting groups in Gaza and the West Bank praised Thursday’s attack, although they did not take responsibility. Hamas called it a heroic operation, while Islamic Jihad vowed that “resistance will continue.” Condemning the attack, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, singled out Hamas in a tweet, saying: “We regret that Hamas has welcomed this attack; there is no glory in terror. “These attacks must stop now and be condemned by all.” CNN’s Abeer Salman, Ibrahim Dahman, Andrew Carey and Hadas Gold contributed to this report.
