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Bomb Blast Wrecks Tel Aviv Bus, Wounding 11 Bomb Blast Wrecks Tel Aviv Bus, Wounding 11
(about 1 hour later)
TEL AVIV — The eight-day conflict in the Gaza Strip spilled onto the streets of Tel Aviv on Wednesday with a bomb blast aboard a civilian bus that injured 11 people and awoke ominous memories among Israelis of more lethal bombings a decade ago.TEL AVIV — The eight-day conflict in the Gaza Strip spilled onto the streets of Tel Aviv on Wednesday with a bomb blast aboard a civilian bus that injured 11 people and awoke ominous memories among Israelis of more lethal bombings a decade ago.
The explosion came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pursued diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. She planned to fly to Cairo Wednesday after talks with Israeli leaders in Jersualem and Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. It was not immediately clear what impact the bombing would have on the effort for a truce. The explosion came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pursued diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. She planned to fly to Cairo on Wednesday after talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. It was not immediately clear what impact the bombing would have on the effort for a truce.
While there was no immediate or formal claim of responsibility for the bus bombing, a message on a Twitter account in the name of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip, declared: “We told you IDF that our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are, ‘You opened the Gates of Hell on Yourselves.’” The letters IDF refer to the Israel Defense Forces. While there was no immediate or formal claim of responsibility for the bus bombing, a message on a Twitter account in the name of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip, declared: “We told you IDF that our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are, ‘You opened the Gates of Hell on Yourselves.’ ” The letters I.D.F. refer to the Israel Defense Forces.
On several occasions since the latest conflagration seized Gaza last week, militants have aimed rockets at Tel Aviv but they have either fallen short, landed in the sea or been intercepted. Hundreds of rockets fired by militants in Gaza have struck other targets.On several occasions since the latest conflagration seized Gaza last week, militants have aimed rockets at Tel Aviv but they have either fallen short, landed in the sea or been intercepted. Hundreds of rockets fired by militants in Gaza have struck other targets.
But the bombing seemed to mark the first time in the current fighting that violence had spread directly onto the streets of Tel Aviv. The bus was not full at the time of the explosion, rescue officials said, and casualties seemed relatively light. But the bombing seemed to be the first time in the current fighting that violence had spread directly onto the streets of Tel Aviv. The bus was not full at the time of the explosion, rescue officials said.
On Wednesday, the Israeli ambulance service said 11 people had been injured, one of them seriously. Three people were moderately injured and 7 lightly wounded. The government said the explosion was an act of terrorism. On Wednesday, the Israeli ambulance service said 11 people had been injured, one of them seriously. Three people were moderately injured and seven lightly wounded. The government said the explosion was an act of terrorism.
“A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv. This was a terrorist attack. Most of the injured suffered only mild injuries,” Reuters quoted Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as saying.“A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv. This was a terrorist attack. Most of the injured suffered only mild injuries,” Reuters quoted Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as saying.
With the black of smoke and the wail of sirens, some Israelis said the bombing rekindled memories of events during the second Palestinian uprising when bus bombings and urban warfare became relatively common. “Unfortunately we know them,” said Ilan Klein, a paramedic who arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion, referring to what he called the familiar sights and sounds of bombings.With the black of smoke and the wail of sirens, some Israelis said the bombing rekindled memories of events during the second Palestinian uprising when bus bombings and urban warfare became relatively common. “Unfortunately we know them,” said Ilan Klein, a paramedic who arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion, referring to what he called the familiar sights and sounds of bombings.
As the charred skeleton of the bus was towed away with its windows shattered, Marcelle Azulia, who had been traveling on another bus said the blast “took me back” to the earlier period. It also hardened opposition to a truce, she said. “In my opinion, we should not go for a ceasefire. They should carry on to the end.” As the charred skeleton of the bus was towed away with its windows shattered, Marcelle Azulia, who had been traveling on another bus said the blast “took me back” to the earlier period. It also hardened opposition to a truce, she said. “In my opinion, we should not go for a cease-fire. They should carry on to the end.”
In a Twitter message, the Israeli military said: “A bus has exploded in Tel Aviv. Possibly due to a bomb or suicide bomber. Many ambulance sirens. Stay tuned for updates.”In a Twitter message, the Israeli military said: “A bus has exploded in Tel Aviv. Possibly due to a bomb or suicide bomber. Many ambulance sirens. Stay tuned for updates.”
But the police said they were hunting for a man who jumped on and off the bus shortly before the blast.But the police said they were hunting for a man who jumped on and off the bus shortly before the blast.

Isabel Kershner reported from Tel Aviv, and Alan Cowell from London.

Isabel Kershner reported from Tel Aviv, and Alan Cowell from London.