Hamas, PIJ Claim Responsibility For Tel Aviv Attack

Hamas has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on 18 August, saying that the operation was conducted in cooperation with the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A man in his fifties was killed when a bomb in his rucksack exploded, with a passing motorised scooter rider also injured. The Israeli police and Shin Bet intelligence services had earlier declared the incident a terrorist attack.

• Emanuel Fabian at Times of Israel posts on X: "In a statement, the terror group says [...] that it was a suicide bombing. Hamas also warns that suicide bombings in Israel will continue, in response to Israeli attacks." The last suicide bombing in Tel Aviv took place in 2006.
• The timing of the attack is not conducive to the efforts by the US, Qatar and Egypt to mediate between Israel and Hamas on reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza. With talks set to resume this week, the launching of a campaign of suicide bombings could limit the prospect of a hostages-for-ceasefire agreement being accepted by both sides.