Israeli Defence Minister orders intensified raids in West Bank after bus explosions
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Jerusalem: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz In response to a series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv has instructed the military to escalate raids in refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, describing the incident as "a terror attack"
The explosions, which occurred on three empty buses, caused no injuries.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to intensify operations in the West Bank, specifically targeting the Tulkarem refugee camp and all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria. This move comes in response to attempted attacks by Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gush Dan area, which Katz described as a serious threat to Israel's civilian population.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also instructed the military to carry out an "intensive" operation in the West Bank, after explosions on buses close to Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what Netanyahu’s office described as a suspected "terror attack".
No group immediately claimed responsibility. However, Hamas' Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Tulkarem, northern West Bank, praised the attack, stating that "the revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier is present on our lands".
Katz vowed to exact a "heavy price" from those responsible.
"We will hunt down the terrorists relentlessly and destroy the terror infrastructure," he said in a statement released by his Ministry.
He said the intensified raids would focus on "the Tulkarem refugee camp and all refugee camps in the West Bank".
Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported that the Shin Bet domestic security agency was investigating whether those who planted the explosive devices came from Tulkarem after a sticker found on one of the devices suggested the attack was "revenge" for recent Israeli raids that caused widespread destruction in the area.
In the attack, three empty buses exploded within minutes, and explosive devices were discovered on two additional buses, according to police reports.
The incident occurs amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel after 16 months of war. Hamas released the bodies of four hostages on Thursday, and the ceasefire has held since its implementation on January 19, despite accusations of violations traded between Israel and Hamas.
Public transportation, including buses, trains, and Tel Aviv's light rail, was temporarily suspended nationwide for security scans.