Sawt Falasteen - Bus blasts rock central Israel in 'suspected terror attack'

Defence Minister Israel Katz accused "Palestinian terrorist organisations" of carrying out the blasts, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold a security meeting.

"Preliminary report - Suspected terror attack. Multiple reports have been received of explosions involving several buses at different locations in Bat Yam," the police said in a statement.

Three devices exploded on buses while two were being defused, a police spokesman told AFP.

A large number of police were deployed to search for suspects, the police statement said.

"Police bomb disposal units are scanning for additional suspicious objects. We urge the public to avoid the areas and remain alert for any suspicious items," it added.

Tzvika Brot, the mayor of Bat Yam, said in a video statement that there were "no injured in these incidents".

Television footage aired by some Israeli networks showed a completely burnt-out bus and another that was on fire.

Israeli media said that bus drivers countrywide had been asked to stop and inspect their vehicles for additional explosive devices.

- 'Very serious' -

A police commander from central Israel, Haim Sargarof said in a televised breifing that the devices used to set off the blasts were similar to those found in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Following the blasts, Netanyahu was set to hold a security meeting, his office said.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been receiving ongoing updates from his military secretary on the IED (improvised-explosive-device) incidents in the Dan (central) area and will soon hold a security assessment," the office said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Katz said he had ordered the military to step up its offensives across the occupied territory, particularly in refugee camps.

"In light of the serious attempted attacks in the Gush Dan (central) area by Palestinian terrorist organisations against the civilian population in Israel, I have instructed the IDF (military) to intensify operations to thwart terrorism in the Tulkarem refugee camp and in all the refugee camps in Judea and Samaria," Katz said in a statement, using the biblical term for the West Bank.

The military has been carrying out near-daily raids in several West Bank cities and camps for several weeks now targeting Palestinian militants.

Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has escalated since the October 2023 outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.

At least 897 Palestinians including militants have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, according to an AFP tally based on figures provided by the Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah.

At least 32 Israelis, including some soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or confrontations during Israeli operations in the West Bank over the same period, according to official Israeli figures.

R.AbuNasser--SF-PST