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Israel-Gaza crisis: 'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv | Israel-Gaza crisis: 'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv |
(35 minutes later) | |
Israeli officials say 21 people have been injured in an explosion on a bus in Israel's commercial capital, Tel Aviv, in what one Israeli official described as a "terrorist attack". | |
After the incident, near a military headquarters, huge blasts were heard in Gaza - an apparent Israeli strike on the football stadium. | After the incident, near a military headquarters, huge blasts were heard in Gaza - an apparent Israeli strike on the football stadium. |
Eleven people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said. | Eleven people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said. |
Efforts to broker a truce between the Hamas movement and Israel continue. | Efforts to broker a truce between the Hamas movement and Israel continue. |
After eight days of exchanges of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Cairo for talks with the Egyptian president. | After eight days of exchanges of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Cairo for talks with the Egyptian president. |
In the immediate aftermath of the bus bombing, there was a palpable sense of shock hanging in the air around the scene. | In the immediate aftermath of the bus bombing, there was a palpable sense of shock hanging in the air around the scene. |
Israel's largest city has seen nothing like this for six-and-a-half years. | Israel's largest city has seen nothing like this for six-and-a-half years. |
One resident - when told that the news of the explosion broadcast from mosques in Gaza has been greeted with a sound of celebratory gunfire there - said that they need to celebrate this as some kind of victory because they have nothing else to offer but violence. | One resident - when told that the news of the explosion broadcast from mosques in Gaza has been greeted with a sound of celebratory gunfire there - said that they need to celebrate this as some kind of victory because they have nothing else to offer but violence. |
A police helicopter still circled overhead and there were roadblocks at many main junctions around the scene as police hunted for the bomber or bombers seen running away from the scene. | A police helicopter still circled overhead and there were roadblocks at many main junctions around the scene as police hunted for the bomber or bombers seen running away from the scene. |
Paradoxically, the explosion and the waves of Israeli air raids on Gaza this morning do not necessarily mean that the search for a ceasefire is dead. | Paradoxically, the explosion and the waves of Israeli air raids on Gaza this morning do not necessarily mean that the search for a ceasefire is dead. |
It may mean that both sides are sending a signal that if a deal is agreed, they will be reaching it from what they regard as a position of strength. | It may mean that both sides are sending a signal that if a deal is agreed, they will be reaching it from what they regard as a position of strength. |
The search for a diplomatic solution reaches a critical phase this afternoon when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi - the only leader with effective lines of communication both to Israel and to Hamas. | The search for a diplomatic solution reaches a critical phase this afternoon when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi - the only leader with effective lines of communication both to Israel and to Hamas. |
Earlier, she and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | Earlier, she and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
The US "strongly condemns" the bus bombing, Mrs Clinton said. | |
Meanwhile, militants in Gaza have been firing more rockets at Israel. | |
Celebratory gunfire | Celebratory gunfire |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter account that the explosion was caused by a bomb and that it was a "terrorist attack". | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter account that the explosion was caused by a bomb and that it was a "terrorist attack". |
Of the 21 injured, three were suffering from moderate to light injuries - including shrapnel wounds and burns - and were undergoing surgery, a spokesman for the Ichilov medical centre in Tel Aviv said. | Of the 21 injured, three were suffering from moderate to light injuries - including shrapnel wounds and burns - and were undergoing surgery, a spokesman for the Ichilov medical centre in Tel Aviv said. |
Six had already been released and the rest were suffering from anxiety, he said. | Six had already been released and the rest were suffering from anxiety, he said. |
The bus was reportedly passing the military headquarters in the city at the time of the blast. | The bus was reportedly passing the military headquarters in the city at the time of the blast. |
Police believe a bomb was planted on the bus and they are still searching for a suspect. | Police believe a bomb was planted on the bus and they are still searching for a suspect. |
Hamas, the Islamist movement which has governed Gaza since 2007, has praised the attack but has not said it was behind the blast. | Hamas, the Islamist movement which has governed Gaza since 2007, has praised the attack but has not said it was behind the blast. |
Celebratory gunfire reportedly rang out in Gaza when local radio relayed news of the attack. | Celebratory gunfire reportedly rang out in Gaza when local radio relayed news of the attack. |
BBC correspondents then reported a series of massive explosions in Gaza, in an apparent Israeli strike on the sports stadium. Reports from Gaza say the stadium has in the past been used a site to launch rockets. | BBC correspondents then reported a series of massive explosions in Gaza, in an apparent Israeli strike on the sports stadium. Reports from Gaza say the stadium has in the past been used a site to launch rockets. |
According to Israel's ministry of foreign affairs, the last bomb attack in Tel Aviv was in April 2006, when a suicide bombing on a restaurant killed 11. | According to Israel's ministry of foreign affairs, the last bomb attack in Tel Aviv was in April 2006, when a suicide bombing on a restaurant killed 11. |
'Profound concern' | 'Profound concern' |
The bus blast comes on the eighth day of the current flare-up in violence between Israel and militants in Gaza. | The bus blast comes on the eighth day of the current flare-up in violence between Israel and militants in Gaza. |
Some 147 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed. | Some 147 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
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Other sites hit in Gaza included a banker's villa, tunnels to Egypt used by smugglers and a media office, said to be linked to Hamas, that was situated two floors above the Agence France-Presse office in Gaza City. | Other sites hit in Gaza included a banker's villa, tunnels to Egypt used by smugglers and a media office, said to be linked to Hamas, that was situated two floors above the Agence France-Presse office in Gaza City. |
The IDF said 62 rockets fired by militants from Gaza had hit Israel so far on Wednesday, while another 20 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system. | The IDF said 62 rockets fired by militants from Gaza had hit Israel so far on Wednesday, while another 20 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system. |
The latest violence will further complicate ceasefire discussions taking place in the region. | The latest violence will further complicate ceasefire discussions taking place in the region. |
The two international mediators are both expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi in Cairo. | The two international mediators are both expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi in Cairo. |
In the West Bank, Mr Ban expressed "profound concern" at the civilian casualties in Gaza and also called on militants to end immediately their "indiscriminate attacks on Israeli population centres". | In the West Bank, Mr Ban expressed "profound concern" at the civilian casualties in Gaza and also called on militants to end immediately their "indiscriminate attacks on Israeli population centres". |
Mrs Clinton held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before heading to Cairo. | Mrs Clinton held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before heading to Cairo. |
Officials from Hamas had suggested on Tuesday that a truce would come into effect at midnight, but Israel later said it had not agreed to a text. | Officials from Hamas had suggested on Tuesday that a truce would come into effect at midnight, but Israel later said it had not agreed to a text. |
Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and targeted killings by Israel. | Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and targeted killings by Israel. |
Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari. The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, is designed to end rocket fire from Gaza. | Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari. The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, is designed to end rocket fire from Gaza. |
Israel has troops massed along the Gaza border but says it is holding off on a possible ground invasion as talks continue. | Israel has troops massed along the Gaza border but says it is holding off on a possible ground invasion as talks continue. |
Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below. |