Bomb Explodes on a Bus in Tel Aviv
A bomb has exploded on a bus in the Israeli capital of Tel Aviv, injuring more than dozen, but also threatening to permanently derail any hopes of a cease fire in Gaza. This is an ongoing story and we'll continue update as new details come in.
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Israeli police are calling it a terrorist attack, but say the bomb was planted on or under the bus, and was the not the work of a suicide bomber. Reports says as many 17 people were injured, though Haartez is reporting that none of the injuries were serious and there are no reports of death.
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One witness says the bomber entered the bus threw the bomb toward the back and ran off, likely giving most of the passengers a chance to escape. Police have arrested one person they thought was a suspect, though there are reports that another may be on the loose.
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Reports from Gaza are that Hamas claimed credit for the attack in an announcement made over loudspeakers throughout Gaza City and that news of the attack was met with celebratory gunfire from supporters of Hamas.
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Even though attack was not deadly as it could have been, it drastically changes the situation between Israel and Gaza. Despite the onslaught of rockets over the last week, there have been no terrorist attacks from inside Israel since 2006. This attack is likely to both scare and anger Israeli citizens who don't want to return to the conditions of the second intifada, which such attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were routine. There are already concerns that this will strengthen the argument of hardliners who don't want to agree to cease fire and want to push for a ground invasion that would mores seriously punish Hamas and do more damage to Gaza. Just one day after it looked like there might be peace, the war may actually be about to escalate instead.
