On Thursday evening, the Israel Transportation Authority suspended all public transportation, including all buses, trains and light rail, following an attempted terrorist attack in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon.
Three empty buses exploded in quick succession in parking lots in these areas, and police believe the explosions must have occurred in the morning, when buses are usually packed.
No injuries were reported, but police said at least two more unexploded devices were found on buses parked nearby. A search is underway for suspects and evidence to determine who was behind the attacks.
Tel Aviv District Police Chief Haim Sargarof was quoted in local media as saying that the bomb plot “looks like something [that originated] in the West Bank.”
Additional details provided in Israeli media said:
According to a Channel 12 news report, the devices were supposed to explode on Friday while the buses were in use, but were somehow set off early. The channel also reported that one of the unexploded devices was found after a passenger alerted the driver about a suspicious bag.
The Bat Yam municipality said in a statement that “miraculously, the buses arrived at the parking lots moments before the explosion” and were already empty of passengers.
If the plot had not been foiled (apparently due to early explosions), up to five buses carrying people could have potentially exploded, in what could have been one of the worst terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv’s history.
The Israeli Defense Ministry announced after the bomb plot that it would accelerate operations in the West Bank to suppress Palestinian militants.
“Given the serious attempts by Palestinian terrorist organizations to carry out terrorist attacks against the Israeli civilian population [in the Tel Aviv area], I have ordered the IDF to increase counterterrorism activities in the Tulkarm refugee camp and all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Some Palestinian sources accuse Israel of being behind the false flag operation to justify increased security and crackdowns in the West Bank.
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, street fighting has taken place in some West Bank towns and camps, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and the killing and injury of dozens of Israelis.
