Hamas Declares Responsibility for Tel Aviv Bombing

Published December 28th, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has declared responsibility for the bomb attack on an Israeli bus in Tel Aviv, reported Al Jazira satellite channel, quoting the Israeli radio.

At least thirteen people were injured when the explosion rocked an Israeli bus near Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israeli police said.

"This is part of the Palestinian response to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people. The intifada (uprising) continues and this is evidence that the Palestinian people are sticking to their rights," Ismail Abu Shanab, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, told AFP.

Thirteen people were injured, most of them lightly, when at least one bomb exploded in an Israeli bus in Tel Aviv early on Thursday afternoon, Israeli medical officials said.

However, political leaders of Hamas did not confirm the group’s responsibility for the attack.

Asked if Hamas was responsible for the Tel Aviv bombing, Abu Shanab said: "No one has taken responsibility. It is not important who carried out this action, only that it is a son of the Palestinian people."

Al Jazira said two explosives planted in the vehicle were detonated, while a third did not explode.

Citing Israeli sources, the station said that something must have gone wrong with the explosives, which explains their weak effect. – (Several Sources)