The Israeli occupation continues its investigations into a series of explosions that targeted three buses in different areas of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, on Thursday, sparking panic among settlers.

Israeli media described the incident as the "return of the nightmare of exploding buses," according to Israeli orientalist Guy Bechor. Israeli sources reported that occupation police arrested a "Jewish-Israeli suspect on allegations of assisting one of the saboteurs."

Regarding the details of the incident, the Israeli Kan channel revealed that a female passenger helped prevent a "disaster" by reporting a suspicious bag inside one of the buses just moments before it exploded. Ofer Karni, CEO of the Dan transportation company, stated that the bus driver was instructed to evacuate the vehicle immediately upon receiving the report, adding, "As soon as everyone moved away, the explosion occurred."

Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion that shook the entire area. "I rushed out to see the bus engulfed in flames. At first, I thought it might be an explosion from an electric bus, but the intensity of the blast was not normal," one of them said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 cited sources as saying that each bomb used weighed approximately five kilograms. The reports also claimed that the occupation had thwarted a plan to detonate 15 buses at 9:00 a.m. in the Gush Dan area, coinciding with five Feda'i operations inside the train system.

For his part, the Israeli police's commander in Tel Aviv claimed that "the nature of the explosive devices indicates they were manufactured in Palestinian territories," announcing that reserve forces had been deployed to several locations.

Israeli media also likened the incident to a Feda'i operation, stating that it was part of a "resistance infrastructure" originating from the West Bank. According to Israeli reports, some of the explosive devices bore inscriptions referencing Hezbollah, its martyred Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas' martyred leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, and the phrase "Revenge for Tulkarm."

A series of events

Police investigations found that the operatives planted four IEDs in buses in Bat Yam and Holon, three of which exploded in busses across several locations in Bat Yam. 

Estimations indicated that the explosives were scheduled to detonate during the early hours of the morning. Two detonations were recorded only a few minutes apart, while the third was set off approximately 15 minutes later. No casualties were recorded. 

"The police are pursuing one of the suspects," Israeli media reported, revealing that three battalions have been called to the West Bank following the explosions. 

The situation prompted immediate measures, including a directive from Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev to halt all train services in Bat Yam. The Israeli military radio also instructed all bus drivers in the area to stop their vehicles, open the doors, and conduct security checks.

⚡️BREAKING

Hebrew sources: Bus bombs detonated simultaneously in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv. The buses were empty, with no casualties, and the perpetrator is unknown. pic.twitter.com/letC9hNPNo

— Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) February 20, 2025

Security and field precautions

The Tel Aviv District Police Commander, Haim Sergrof, stated that "there are five sites linked to the incident, with three explosive devices having already detonated, while bomb disposal experts are working to defuse the remaining two."

He explained that "the devices were not of conventional specifications but contained a timer," urging the public to "exercise caution and immediately report any suspicious objects."

Following the developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting with the Minister of Security, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the General Inspector of the police, as he instructed the military to carry out intensified operations in the West Bank and directed the police and Shin Bet to ramp up preventive measures to stop further attacks. 

Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv police chief expressed frustration with the Shin Bet’s performance, asking, "This agency is responsible for thwarting attacks, so how did this happen? We will demand answers from the Shin Bet regarding this security lapse."

Police spokesperson Aryeh Doron described the incident as a "miracle," stating that "the attack could have resulted in a major disaster." Moreover, police spokesperson Assi Aharoni told Kan 11 that the current period is "security-wise, highly complex," emphasizing that "there are multiple threats."

For its part, the Israeli Army announced that it is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident, affirming that "military operations in the West Bank will continue based on intelligence reports." Additionally, forces sealed off several entrances to the West Bank as a precautionary measure.