Posted on 02/20/25
| News Source: Arutz-7
Bat Yam, Israel - Feb. 20, 2025 - Three empty buses exploded and caught fire on Thursday evening in three parking lots in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. Additional explosive devices were found on two buses in the nearby city of Holon.
One explosion occurred in a bus lot near the Bat Yam Stadium and the second in a lot 400 meters away.
Later a report was received about a bus that exploded in a lot near Wolfson Hospital in Holon, four kilometers away from the other two.
The words: "Revenge from Tulkarm" were found written on one of the devices.
After the explosions, bus drivers in Bat Yam received a voice message stating: "I ask all drivers who are currently on routes to stop at the nearest bus stop and search the bus. If you see a suspicious bag, please report it."
An Israeli source said that Prime Minister Netanyahu views the incident of planting explosives on buses with great severity and will instruct the security forces to act more decisively against terrorist elements in Judea and Samaria.
Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to intensify its operations against refugee camps in Judea and Samaria in response to attempted attacks in the Gush Dan area.
"In light of the severe attempted attacks in Gush Dan by Palestinian terror organizations against Israel's civilian population, I have instructed the IDF to increase the intensity of its operations to thwart terrorism in the Tulkarm refugee camp and in all refugee camps in Judea and Samaria. We will pursue the terrorists relentlessly and destroy the terror infrastructure in the camps, which serve as a forward outpost of the Iranian axis of evil," Katz said.
The Bus Drivers Union published an order to all public transportation drivers to stop all operations across the country. "We call on all bus drivers in Israel to follow the directives of the security officials and the known procedures and to conduct thorough inspections of the buses while showing maximum vigilance. In case of any unusual incident report it immediately to the security forces."
Minister of Transportation Miri Regev also ordered all trains in the country to cease operations.
Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot stated: "A short time ago two explosions occurred on two busses that were in bus lots in the city, without passengers. No one was hurt in the incidents."
The Mayor added: "The details of the incident are still unclear, and we are carrying out searches and taking precautions at this stage to ensure there are no additional threats."
Brot later updated that three explosive devices detonated on buses in the city.
The police stated that "several reports were received regarding explosions at multiple scenes in Bat Yam involving several buses. Numerous police forces are at the scenes of the explosions, searching for suspects. Police bomb disposal experts are scanning for additional suspicious objects."
Police Commissioner Daniel Levy arrived at the scene and was assessing the situation.
The Firefighting Service stated: "At 8:30 p.m. a report was received regarding a bus explosion in a bus lot on Amal Street in Bat Yam. Firefighting crews that arrived at the scene saw a bus completely engulfed in flames, no one was injured or trapped. The firefighters gained control of the fire quickly and without concern for the flames spreading. No one was injured in the incident."