Israeli police announced that the explosion in Tel Aviv on Monday was a “terrorist attack” using a powerful explosive device, resulting in the injury of a passerby. Hamas, through its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for this attack. According to a joint statement from the police and Shin Bet, the bomb exploded near a Jewish synagogue, killing the person carrying it and injuring another.
The police issued instructions to raise the alert level and conduct extensive searches in the Tel Aviv area, and are currently assessing the situation.
For its part, Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed that the operation was carried out in cooperation with Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad. The explosion occurred on Lahi Street around 8 PM, resulting in the death of an unidentified person and moderate injuries to another, according to Maariv newspaper.
Reports indicated that a truck at the scene helped prevent a larger catastrophe. Israeli Channel 12 also reported that the suspect was filmed carrying a backpack and wearing long clothes shortly before the explosion.
This incident coincided with the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in the ongoing war on Gaza. He is holding meetings with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing fears of a wider regional escalation.
