Hamas armed wing claims responsibility for deadly Tel Aviv attack

Hamas’ armed al-Qassam Brigades on Monday claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb blast in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

Al-Qassam Brigades said they conducted the military operation in cooperation with the Islamic Jihad movement’s armed wing, the Al Quds Brigades.

Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency on Monday described the bomb blast in Tel Aviv late on Sunday as a terrorist attack

The man carrying the bomb, which exploded near a synagogue, was killed and a passerby was injured, according to police at the scene.

“It can now be confirmed that this was a terror attack,” police and Shin Bet said in a joint statement on Monday.

Sunday’s explosion came about an hour after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv to push for a ceasefire in Gaza that will end the 10-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.

There has been increased urgency to reach a ceasefire deal amid fears of an escalation across the wider region. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for his death.