February 21st 2025.
The situation in Jerusalem has become increasingly tense as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a new order for the military to increase their presence in refugee camps located in the occupied West Bank. This decision comes after a series of bus explosions that Katz has deemed as a "terror attack". He stated, "In light of the recent attempted attacks in the Gush Dan area and the threat they pose to innocent civilians, I have instructed the IDF to intensify their efforts to combat terrorism in the Tulkarem refugee camp and all other refugee camps in Judea and Samaria." Katz used the biblical term for the West Bank in his statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also taken action, ordering the military to conduct an "intensive" operation in the West Bank in response to the explosions that occurred on buses near Tel Aviv. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the blasts, as reported by Xinhua news agency. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Tulkarm, northern West Bank, have expressed support for the attack. They stated, "The revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier is present on our lands."
Katz is determined to hold those responsible accountable and has promised to take decisive action. "We will not rest until we have tracked down the terrorists and destroyed their infrastructure," he declared in a statement released by his Ministry. The intensified raids will primarily focus on the Tulkarm refugee camp and other refugee camps in the West Bank.
According to Israel's state-owned Kan TV, the Shin Bet domestic security agency is currently investigating whether the individuals who planted the explosives came from Tulkarm. A sticker found on one of the devices suggests that the attack may have been a form of "revenge" for recent Israeli raids that resulted in significant destruction in the area.
The attack involved three buses exploding within minutes of each other, and explosive devices were also discovered on two other buses. As a precaution, all public transportation, including buses, trains, and Tel Aviv's light rail, were temporarily suspended nationwide for security scans.
These events come at a delicate time as there is currently a ceasefire in place between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel after 16 months of war. In a positive turn of events, Hamas has released the bodies of four Israeli hostages. Despite accusations of violations from both sides, the ceasefire has held strong since it was implemented on January 19.
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