Hamas claims responsibility for deadly bomb attack on Tel Aviv
Jerusalem, Aug 19: Hamas and another Palestinian group claimed responsibility on Monday for what appeared to be a failed bombing attack in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv that killed the attacker and wounded a bystander.
The blast late on Sunday came as mediators were working on a cease-fire agreement in the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The bomb appeared to have gone off before it was intended, and it was unclear whether the attacker planned to carry out a suicide attack or plant the explosives and set them off remotely.
Tel Aviv's district police commander, Deputy Commissioner Peretz Amar, told reporters the blast occurred a few metres (yards) from a synagogue filled with people at evening prayers.
The fact that the bomb appears to have gone off prematurely, outside on the street, helped avoid “a very real tragedy” that could have had many fatalities and inflicted major damage, he said.
Amar said the suspect, who was captured in security footage walking down the street wearing a large backpack, was not previously known to police and they are working to identify where he came from and if he received any additional support.
Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency said in a joint statement the blast was an attack that involved “a powerful explosive”.
In a statement on Monday, Hamas said it and the smaller Palestinian Islamic Jihad group were responsible for the blast and threatened to continue attacking “as long as the occupation's massacres, displacement of civilians, and the continuation of the assassination policy continues”.
The statement appeared to refer to recent strikes attributed to Israel that have killed senior Hamas members, as well as the war in Gaza, which was ignited by Hamas' October 7 attack into Israel.
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US–Iran first round direct talks conclude in Islamabad: Report
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The first round of direct talks between the United States and Iran, held in Islamabad, has concluded, Al Jazeera reported citing sources close to the development.
According to the report, following the discussions, delegations from both sides agreed to exchange written documents, a move aimed at ensuring clarity and consensus on the understandings reached during the meeting.
Both the Iranian and US delegations arrived in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, amid high security for the peace talks.
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