Israel’s Netanyahu orders ‘intensive’ West Bank operations after bus explosions
At least three empty buses exploded in Bat Yam, a city outside Tel Aviv on Thursday evening
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered an “intensive operation against centres of terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, his office said, after three buses exploded in central Israel without causing any reported injuries.
Three devices detonated on buses in the city of Bat Yam on Thursday evening and two others were being defused, according to police, with Israel’s defence minister accusing “Palestinian terrorist” groups of being behind the blasts. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions.
Netanyahu’s office said on social media early Friday that he had completed a security assessment with top officials, ordering fresh counterterrorism operations as well as stepped up security in Israeli cities.
“The Prime Minister has ordered the IDF (military) to carry out an intensive operation against centres of terrorism in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu’s office said on X, using the biblical term for the West Bank.
“The Prime Minister also ordered the Israel Police and the ISA (internal security agency) to increase preventive activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities,” it added.