The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for a bomb blast near a synagogue in Tel Aviv on Monday. Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency have described the incident as a terrorist attack. The explosion, which occurred late on Sunday, resulted in the death of the bomber and injuries to a passerby, according to Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency.
In a statement, the Brigades vowed to continue their “martyrdom operations” inside Israel as long as “occupation’s massacres and assassination policies” persist. This reference includes Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza and the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in Haniyeh’s death.
The Gaza conflict began on October 7 last year, following a violent incursion by Hamas gunmen into Israeli communities, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has devastated large areas of the Gaza Strip, with health authorities reporting over 40,000 casualties.
The timing of the Tel Aviv explosion coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the city to advocate for a ceasefire to end the 10-month-old war between Israel and Hamas. The explosion happened about an hour after his arrival.
The international community has expressed growing concern about the potential for regional escalation, particularly as Iran has threatened retaliation following Haniyeh’s assassination.
Melissa Enoch
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