Buses explode in Israel – as military blocks entry to some areas of West Bank
Three buses have exploded near Tel Aviv in what Israeli police called a “terror incident”, as they search for suspects.
Two of the blasts were in the city of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, and a third was reported in the nearby town of Holon, a police spokesperson said on Thursday.
Officers said they also found at least one unexploded device in Holon. They added: “Several suspicious objects were also examined by police bomb disposal units, but suspicion was ruled out in those cases.”
Police earlier said that “no injuries have been reported at this stage”, and that the Shin Bet internal security agency was taking over the investigation.
The aftermath of one of the bus explosions in Bat Yam. Pic: AP
The explosions happened on the same day that four bodies were returned by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel.
In response to the bus blasts, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to intensify operations in the West Bank as the military blocked entry points to certain areas of the occupied Palestinian territory.
Timer bombs
Speaking to local broadcaster Channel 12, an Israeli police official said the bombs used were with a timer and were non-standard explosives.
They added that investigators believe the bombs looked similar to those made in the West Bank, but it was not confirmed where they were produced.
A group identifying itself as a branch of Qassam Brigades – Hamas’s military wing – from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem later said on Telegram: “We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.”
An Israeli police officer inspects a bus after a series of blasts. Pic: AP
It comes as Mr Katz said he told the IDF to “intensify counter-terrorism operations in the Tulkarem refugee camp and throughout refugee camps in the West Bank”.
The defence minister added: “We will pursue the terrorists relentlessly and destroy the terror infrastructure in the camps, which serve as a forward base for the Iranian axis of evil.
“Residents who provide shelter and protection to terrorists will pay a heavy price.”
The IDF also said in a statement that it has “intensified counter-terrorism operations in Judea and Samaria continue” and will focus on “intelligence findings”.
Israel has repeatedly carried out military raids on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank since Hamas’s October 7 2023 attack sparked the war in Gaza.
Since the Gaza ceasefire took effect on 19 January this year, Tulkarem and two refugee camps in the city have been the focus of Israel’s offensive.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that he was being updated by his military secretary on the situation, and would soon hold a security assessment.
Tzvika Brot, mayor of Bat Yam, also called it a miracle that no one was hurt, and said the buses had finished their routes and were in a car park.
Banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia will hold a rival international song contest on Saturday, with an emphasis on “traditional values”.
Instead of camp, think conservative – patriotic pop with a PG-rating.
“Intervision” was launched under the order of Vladimir Putin, with the hope it would serve as an expression of Moscow’s international pulling power.
Intervision decorations in Red Square, Moscow, ahead of the contest
There are contestants from 23 countries, which are a mixture of Russia’s allies old and new, including Belarus, Cuba and Tajikistan as well as China, India and Saudi Arabia.
The odd one out is the United States, who’ll be represented by an artist called “Vassy”. She’s not part of an official delegation, but an American voice is still a coup for the Kremlin, which will seek to use this contest as proof of the West’s failure to isolate Russia on the global stage.
‘War whitewash’
Intervision is not entirely new. It was originally launched in the 1960s as an instrument of Soviet soft power, before largely fading from view in the 1980s.
According to Moscow, its revival has nothing to do with politics. But Ukraine has condemned it as propaganda, and an attempt to whitewash Russia’s war.
It was a point I put to some contestants after their final press conferences, but it didn’t go down well.
“We don’t think like that, we are here to spread peace,” India’s Rauhan Malik told me, when I asked if his participation was a show of support for Russia’s invasion.
Malik, one of the contestants
“Are you not turning a blind eye to Russia’s aggression?” I countered.
“I have no idea about it,” he said. “I have no idea about the current situation that’s happening. I don’t want to speak about that as well.”
Eurovision legends Abba would almost certainly not make the Russian contest guest list. Pic: AP
Really? He had no idea? But before I could go on, I felt a forceful hand on my shoulder and a minder stepped in.
The intervention was even quicker when it came to speaking to Brazil’s act. As soon as I mentioned the word Ukraine, I was drowned out by shouts of “no, no, no, no” and the duo were ushered away.
Brazilian contestants, duo Luciano Calazans and Thais Nader
Where’s the glitter?
Intervision is not just a reaction to Russia’s recent exclusion from Eurosivion, however, it’s also a reaction to the contest’s values and what it’s come to represent.
Its celebration of sexual diversity and LGBTQ+ rights are seen as a symbol of what the Kremlin calls the West’s moral decline. In contrast, Intervision organisers say their contest will promote “traditional, family values.”
Judging by the costumes on show ahead of last week’s draw, that translates to less glitter, more embroidery, with a thematic emphasis on national heritage.
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So what do Russians think of Intervision’s resurrection? Can it replace Eurovision?
“We don’t miss Eurovision,” Galina and Tatiana say, underneath a collection of purple and pink ‘Intervision’ flags near Red Square.
“It was so horrible, especially lately. We didn’t like watching it at all.”
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Why are countries boycotting Eurovision?
Polina agrees, believing Russia’s version will be “more interesting”.
“Many countries that participated in Eurovision want to boycott it, so it’s interesting to see a more peaceful event now,” she says.
Igor is more circumspect. “I’d like to believe that this isn’t a political event,” he says, “but rather an event that unites nations and people.”
Intervision will succeed in uniting some nations. But at the same time, it may only deepen divisions with others – further evidence that Russia and the West are singing very different tunes.
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