Explanator
The investigation is underway while Israel increases the raids in the West Bank after the explosions that made no victim.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered soldiers to intensify his raids through the occupied West Bank after explosions in three empty buses near Tel Aviv in what the authorities call a suspected “terrorist attack”.
No victim has been reported in the explosions that come when Netanyahu accused the Palestinian group of Hamas to violate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Here is what we know of the incident so far:
What happened in Israel and when?
From 8:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. GMT) Thursday evening, three explosive devices started to explode inside three buses in the south of Tel Aviv, according to the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
The first two bombs left for a few minutes, and the third exploded about 15 minutes later. All buses were empty.
After searches the region, Israeli speakers found more explosives on two other buses that were not exploding. The five bombs were identical and equipped with timer, according to the police.
Where did the bus explosions take place in Israel?
The buses have exploded in several car parks in the central cities of Israel of Bat Yam and Holon, each about 10 km (6 miles) south of Tel Aviv.
Has anyone injured?
No victim was reported because the buses were parked and empty after finishing their routes.
According to police, the explosives were probably intended to leave Friday morning when people were on their way to work.
Bat Yam mayor, Tzvika Brot, said it was a miracle that no one was injured.
Who led the attack?
It is still not clear. Israeli police say they are investigating a “suspected terrorist attack”, but no group has claimed responsibility.
The battalion of Tulkarem, a group of fights based in the city of Tulkarem occupying the West Bank, published on Telegram: “We will never forget to take revenge on our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.”
However, the group does not seem to claim the responsibility of the explosions.
What do we know about the investigation?
Tel Aviv district police chief Haim Sargarof described the bombs used in the attack as improved explosives who have the characteristics of coming from the West Bank, according to the Times of Israel. The authorities still plan to know if a single suspect or more plants has planted the bombs, he added, although no evidence has yet been provided who could have been behind the explosions.
The investigation has now passed to the Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet.
How did the Israeli authorities respond?
They put the Israeli cities on high alert and asked the public transport authority to stop and check all the buses, trains and light trains.
The Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also ordered an escalation in the already violent raids of the Israeli army in occupied West Bank, where the police suspect that the authors can come. He specifically distinguished the Tulkarem refugee camp, a bastion of the Palestinian resistance which faced some of the most destructive Israeli raids since October 7, 2023.
“We will continue the terrorists to the end and destroy the terrorist infrastructure in the camps that form the front line of the Iranian axis of evil,” said Katz. “People who sponsor and house terrorism will pay a high price.”
Tel Aviv Tribune’s correspondent Nour Odeh said that Palestinians in the West Bank live in additional fear after “announcements of the accelerated Israeli military action”.
“The occupied West Bank, especially in the north of Tulkarem and Jenin, underwent an unprecedented military assault, causing the forced mass movement of more than 40,000,” said Odeh.
