Three empty buses were detonated on the southern edge of Tel Aviv in what Israeli authorities are describing as a “suspected terror attack.” The explosions took place Thursday night in Bat Yam, a city located near Tel Aviv, though fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
According to Israeli police, devices placed on two additional buses failed to detonate. One of these undetonated devices reportedly bore a message referencing “revenge” for a recent Israeli military raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli military to launch a “robust operation” targeting “centers of terrorism” in the West Bank. Social media footage captured one of the buses ablaze, with thick black smoke rising from the scene.
Police spokesperson Aryeh Doron addressed the situation shortly after the explosions, urging the public to remain vigilant for any suspicious bags or objects. “We might have been fortunate if the terrorists set the timers incorrectly,” he said, cautioning that it was too soon to draw conclusions about the incident.
Police Commander Haim Sargarof added that the devices used in the blasts were similar to those previously discovered in the West Bank, where Israeli forces have been intensifying operations against Palestinian militants for several months. One of the unexploded devices found at the scene weighed 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and bore a message reading “Revenge from Tulkarm,” likely alluding to Israel’s recent military actions in the northern West Bank.
Following the explosions, the Palestinian militant group Tulkarm Brigade issued a statement warning that “revenge for the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier remains on our land.” However, the group stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been conducting operations against Palestinian militant factions in the West Bank, particularly focusing on areas like Tulkarm and Jenin in the north. These raids have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians amid ongoing tensions in the region.
