In Bat Yam, Israeli police reported explosions from bombs placed on three buses, with no injuries reported. Defense Minister Israel Katz attributed the attacks to “Palestinian terrorist organizations.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned a security meeting, emphasizing the seriousness of the incidents. Preliminary reports indicated that multiple explosions occurred, prompting bomb disposal units to search for more explosives. Following the blasts, Netanyahu urged decisive action against terror elements in the West Bank while ordering intensified military operations in response to the rising violence since the October outbreak of war in Gaza, which has escalated tensions in the region.
Jerusalem:
Israeli police reported that explosives detonated on three buses in the central city of Bat Yam on Thursday evening, with a local official confirming that there were no casualties.
Defence Minister Israel Katz attributed the blasts to “Palestinian terrorist organisations,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was preparing to convene a security meeting.
“Preliminary report – Suspected terror attack. We have received multiple reports of explosions on several buses at different sites in Bat Yam,” the police stated.
According to a police spokesman, three devices detonated on buses, while two others were in the process of being defused, as reported by AFP.
A significant police presence was established to search for potential suspects, as indicated in the police statement.
“Police bomb disposal units are actively searching for additional suspicious objects. We advise the public to steer clear of the areas and stay vigilant for any unusual items,” it continued.
Tzvika Brot, the mayor of Bat Yam, shared in a video statement that there were “no injuries in these incidents.”
Television footage broadcasted by various Israeli networks showed one bus completely charred and another engulfed in flames.
Israeli media reported that bus drivers nationwide had been instructed to halt and examine their vehicles for any additional explosive devices.
– ‘Very serious’ –
A police commander from central Israel, Haim Sargarof, stated in a televised briefing that the devices used in the blasts resembled those found in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In the wake of the explosions, Netanyahu was scheduled to hold a security meeting, according to his office.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been receiving continuous updates from his military secretary regarding the IED (improvised-explosive-device) incidents in the Dan (central) area and will soon conduct a security assessment,” the office said in a statement.
An official from the prime minister’s office indicated that Netanyahu “considers the placement of explosives on buses a very serious incident and plans to implement decisive actions against terror elements in the West Bank.”
In a separate announcement, Katz stated that he had directed the military to enhance its operations throughout the occupied territories, particularly in refugee camps.
“In response to the grave attempted attacks in the Gush Dan (central) area by Palestinian terrorist organisations targeting the civilian population in Israel, I have ordered the IDF (military) to escalate operations to prevent terrorism in the Tulkarem refugee camp and all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria,” Katz stated, using the biblical designation for the West Bank.
The military has been conducting near-daily raids in various West Bank cities and camps over the past several weeks, focusing on Palestinian militants.
Violence in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, has increased since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
At least 897 Palestinians, including militants, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the onset of the Gaza conflict, according to an AFP tally based on data provided by the Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah.
Conversely, at least 32 Israelis, including a number of soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or confrontations during Israeli operations in the West Bank during the same timeframe, according to official Israeli statistics.
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