Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a crackdown on terrorism in the West Bank following a series of explosions involving three empty buses in suburbs of Tel Aviv on Thursday night.
The explosions occurred in parking lots in Bat Yam and Holon, causing alarm among Israelis already mourning the recent return of the bodies of three hostages. Additional bombs were discovered on two other buses, but no injuries were reported.
Authorities found timers on the bombs, leading them to suspect a coordinated terror attack was planned for the following day.
Mayor of Bat Yam, Yossi Avrahami, described the incident as a “big miracle” and praised the prevention of a major terror attack across the Tel Aviv metro area.
In response to the incidents, the Israeli military deployed three battalions to the West Bank. Netanyahu emphasized a heightened effort to combat terror groups in the region, signaling a shift in focus during a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu stated, “We are targeting the strongholds of terrorism, demolishing streets used by terrorists, their homes, and eliminating terrorist operatives and leaders. We are taking decisive action against Hamas and other terrorist entities that seek to harm us. The attempted series of terrorist attacks we witnessed is a grave situation, prompting us to bolster our forces in Judea and Samaria, the Israeli government’s term for the West Bank.”
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