Explosion hits bus in central Tel Aviv, 10 wounded
The blast shattered windows on the bus, which was driving on a street that runs alongside Israel's defence headquarters. Israel's ambulance service said three of the wounded were in a moderate-to-serious condition.
"A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv. This was a terrorist attack. Most of the injured suffered only mild injuries," said Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a message on Twitter, he said police were combing the area for the person who planted the device, apparently confirming reports that it was not a suicide attack. Israeli media said a man had been arrested.
The bombing happened on the eighth day of an Israeli offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and threatened to complicate Egyptian-led efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in Gaza City when local radio stations reported news of the Tel Aviv explosion.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the bombing, but stopped short of claiming responsibility.
"Hamas blesses the attack in Tel Aviv and sees it as a natural response to the Israeli massacres...in Gaza," he told Reuters.
"Palestinian factions will resort to all means in order to protect our Palestinian civilians in the absence of a world effort to stop the Israeli aggression," Abu Zuhri said.
The last time Israel's commercial capital was hit by a serious bomb blast was in April 2006, when a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 11 people at a sandwich stand near the city's old central bus station.
COMMENTS (19)
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Staged drama by Israel. Just like Belgium, India, Thailand and God knows where else !!
Haha....Now can someone question Israel on its attack ? They are pounding terrorists.simple!!
I suppose the people who think it's appropriate to ignore the 1,000+ rockets will ignore this terrorist attack as well? After all - it only wounded 10 people and rocket attacks apparently only count if they kill people - stupid logic but people don't use logic when they try and defend biased views. Ain't no clean hands in this battle and the hands are getting dirtier each day.
barak obama said.."there is no country on earth that would tolerate missile raining down on its citizen from outside its border"...pardon me sir but have u considered US missiles attacks in Pakistan...
TelAviv.... Dont mess with the Gaza...Leave asap or be ready for another one on a massive scale...
Adios.
Hamas will be blamed for their own crimes
@jism: Just yesterday 20 more civilians, mostly women and children were killed in Palestine. The blast though regretful is much disproportionate to what Israel caused in Palestine. It’s amazing how would you equate this blast a reason for a war for Israel’s existence yet 20 Palestinians killed on the same day doesn't ring a bell! Biased, much biased
Dear ET, while this explosion took place, 20 more Palestinians died on the same day. While Hillary Clinton was travelling for ceasefire talk, and while negotiations were talking place for de-escallation Israel continued its heavy bombing in Palestine. Israel's Foreign Minister vowed to Bomb Palestien back to middle ages on Air. Is there a chance you could highlight that too in your paper space
@jism: Just yesterday 20 more civilians, mostly women and children were killed in Palestine. The blast though regretful is much disporportionate to what Israel caused in Palestine . Its amazing how would you equate this blast a reason for a war for israel's existance yet 20 Palestinians killed on the same day doesn't ring a bell! Biased, much biased
After 8 days when truce was being discussed and pressure on Israel was building up...was it blast or fireworks in which nobody got killed?
its look like a MOSSAD JOB to show the world that they r not safe they want sympathy of the world they want to divert the mind of the world body
Another Hollywood-Media-Play-Out-Drop-Scene-Fake-Plot-Studio-Set-Up-Moss ad-Drama...now get ready for Israel's 'fake-histrionics' to rile up its fast-fading global support...
Israel should teach the terrorist a lesson or two now. Enough patience has been shown by Tel Aviv
The comment by Ali typifies the hypocritical mindset of most Pakistanis: Violence against non-muslims is acceptable but any attack on the muslim 'ummah' is a crime against humanity, Islam etc. I condone Israel's barbaric offensive but to 'cheer' when innocent lives are lost and to congratulate such people? You are no better than Israel yourself.
Madness! I strongly condemn this kind of violence. There is no excuse for murdering innocent civilians on either side, lives of Palestinian muslims are no more valuable than that of Israeli civilians.
The military and military wings of either sides can do whatever they wish, it's all political anyway. Palestinian sides want to up their presence before elections and Israeli Gov. has always been into war mongering anyway.
"Celebratory gunfire rang out in Gaza City when local radio stations reported news of the Tel Aviv explosion." it seems that Israel is not attacking the innocents,rather it is fighting for it's existence. and they are not as much innocent as the media portrays.
is Hamas mad??? 10 people are injured in this attack and in response Israel will kill at least 100 people in Gaza may be even more...
Great response by the Palestinians! Very happy!
Damn, there goes any chance of a much needed ceasefire. It seems everyone has gone mad...