Israeli officials confirm Tel Aviv bombing was a terrorist attack, Hamas claims responsibility

Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed joint responsibility Monday for a bombing the day before in Tel Aviv that killed the apparent attacker and wounded a bystander and that Israeli officials confirmed was a terrorist attack.

The bomb appeared to go off before it was intended, and the presumed attacker was shown in security footage walking down the street wearing a large backpack just before the explosion, according to the Associated Press. Israeli media quoted police officials as saying the intended target was a nearby synagogue.

In a statement Monday, Hamas’ militant wing said it and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s militant wing were responsible for the blast. 

Al-Qassam Brigades, in cooperation with Saraya Al-Quds, announced ‘the execution of a martyrdom operation that took place last night, Sunday, in the city of ‘Tel Aviv.’’ 

The groups threatened ‘martyrdom operations within the occupied territories will return to the forefront as long as the massacres by the occupation, the displacement of civilians, and the assassination policy continue.’

Reuters reported that was a reference to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and the July 31 killing of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an explosion in Tehran that was blamed on Israel.

The Israeli police spokesperson’s unit and the Shin Bet spokesperson’s unit released a joint statement of their own confirming the large explosion that detonated the night before in Tel Aviv was a ‘terror attack.’ 

Since Sunday night, Tel Aviv District police officers, officers from the police bomb disposal unit, and forensic investigators, in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), ‘have been working at the scene where a powerful bomb exploded on Lechi Road in Tel Aviv. All necessary actions and examinations are being carried out in coordination with the Shin Bet,’ Monday’s statement said. ‘It can now be confirmed that this was a terror attack involving the explosion of a powerful explosive.’

Israeli officials said the explosion moderately injured a passerby who was transported to receive medical treatment.

‘Immediately following the incident, the Tel Aviv District Commander conducted a special situational assessment with all investigative and support units, directing an increase in alert levels and extensive searches throughout the greater Tel Aviv area,’ the statement added. ‘The Israel Police continues to operate with heightened security measures in crowded areas, in collaboration with special units and volunteers from the emergency response teams, to ensure the safety and security of the public. We urge citizens to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious person or object to the Israel Police by calling the 100 emergency hotline.’

Police said Sunday that the explosion killed one person, presumed to be the bomber.

‘We know that the mutilated body is not that of an innocent bystander but the one who carried the bomb,’ Tel Aviv District Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Peretz Amar said, according to the AP. 

The bombing happened about an hour after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday to renew ceasefire negotiations, Reuters reported. Blinken said it is ‘maybe the last opportunity’ to reach a Gaza cease-fire agreement that would return hostages held by Hamas and bring relief to Palestinians after 10 months of war in Gaza.

Blinken on Monday was on his ninth urgent mission to the Middle East since the conflict began. His visit came days after mediators, including the United States, expressed renewed optimism a deal was near. But Hamas has voiced deep dissatisfaction with the latest proposal and Israel has said there were areas it was unwilling to compromise, the AP reported.

The trip also comes amid fears the conflict could widen into a deeper regional war following the killings of top militant commanders in Lebanon that Iran blamed on Israel.

‘This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,’ Blinken said as he opened talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

Fox News’ Yonat Friling and the Associated Press contributed to this report.