Terror strikes Tel Aviv, Hamas, Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for explosive attack

Israeli authorities have classified a powerful explosion that rocked Tel Aviv on Sunday as a terrorist attack, with Hamas and Islamic Jihad jointly claiming responsibility for the incident.

The blast, which occurred on Halehi Street, has left one passerby moderately injured and has raised significant concerns about public safety in the bustling city.

In a joint statement released on Monday, both the Israeli police and Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, confirmed the nature of the attack.

“This was a terror attack involving the explosion of a powerful explosive,” they stated, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Medical sources reported that the injured individual was promptly transported for treatment, while a police official noted that a “major disaster was averted,” suggesting that the potential for a higher casualty count was alarmingly real.

Following the explosion, Tel Aviv District Commander initiated extensive searches across the greater city area to ensure the safety of residents and to investigate the incident further. Police reported receiving an influx of calls from concerned citizens who heard the loud blast, signaling widespread alarm among the population.

The armed wing of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced their responsibility for the attack via a statement on their Telegram account. They claimed that the explosion was part of a “martyrdom operation,” executed in collaboration with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades. Their statement underscored their intent to continue such operations as long as the conflict persists, citing ongoing violence against Palestinians.

Israeli police reported that the individual suspected of carrying the explosive was killed during the incident, although further details about the intended target of the attack remain unclear. The blast has heightened tensions in Tel Aviv, a city already on high alert due to the escalating conflict in Gaza and surrounding regions.