The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad took responsibility for a bomb explosion near a synagogue in Tel Aviv on Monday. Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency have labeled the incident a terrorist attack. The blast occurred late Sunday, killing the man carrying the bomb and injuring a passerby.
The militant groups have stated that such “martyrdom operations” will continue in Israel as long as “occupation’s massacres and assassination policy” persist—referencing Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Israel has not officially commented on its involvement in Haniyeh’s death.
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7 of last year when Hamas fighters breached the border, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel’s military campaign has devastated large parts of the Gaza Strip, with health authorities in Gaza reporting at least 40,000 deaths.
The explosion in Tel Aviv occurred shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in the city, where he is advocating for a ceasefire to end the ongoing 10-month war between Israel and Hamas. There is heightened concern about potential regional escalation, particularly following Iran’s threats of retaliation for Haniyeh’s assassination.
