Netanyahu orders intensive West Bank operations after Tel Aviv bus explosions
Israeli soldiers deploy during an ongoing Israeli raid in the Tulkarem camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank on February 19, 2025 (AFP Photo)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to initiate an “intensive operation against centers of terrorism” in the occupied West Bank.
This directive comes in response to a series of explosions on Thursday evening that targeted three empty buses in Bat Yam, a suburb south of Tel Aviv.
No casualties were reported.
Explosions in Bat Yam
The incidents involved bombs detonating on three buses parked in separate depots in Bat Yam. Israeli police discovered two additional explosive devices on buses in the nearby city of Holon, which were successfully defused.
All five devices were reported to be identical, equipped with timers, and believed to have originated from the West Bank. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects.
Military response in West Bank
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office announced that he had instructed the Israeli army to conduct an intensive operation targeting “centers of terrorism” in the West Bank.
Additionally, the Israeli prime minister ordered the Israel Police and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet/ISA) to enhance preventive measures against potential attacks in cities.
Following the attempt to perpetrate a chain of mass bus bombings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just completed a security assessment with the Defense Minister, the Israeli army Chief-of-Staff, the ISA Director and the Israel Police Inspector General.
The Prime Minister has ordered the Israeli army to carry out an intensive operation against centers of terrorism in West Bank.
The Prime Minister also ordered the Israel Police and the ISA to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities.
Office of the Prime Minister of Israel
Increased security measures
Following the explosions, Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the Israeli army to “increase the intensity of activity to thwart terrorism” in the West Bank, particularly focusing on the Tulkarem refugee camp.
The military has implemented movement restrictions for Palestinians in certain parts of the West Bank and has blocked several checkpoints as part of the heightened security measures.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bus explosions.
Escalating violence in occupied West Bank
Violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated since the escalation of clashes between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which gained new momentum after October 2023.
According to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, at least 897 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli forces or civilian illegal settlers in the West Bank since the conflict began.
At least 32 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been killed in attacks or clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank during the same period, according to official Israeli figures.
The ongoing Israeli military operations have resulted in significant displacement, with more than 40,000 Palestinians forced from their homes, according to the United Nations.
