Tel Aviv Truck Blast Probed as Possible Terrorist Attack: Israeli Media

A truck explosion that killed one person Sunday night in central Tel Aviv is being probed as a possible terrorist attack, according to multiple reports by Israeli media outlets.

The Times of Israel reported Sunday that Tel Aviv Police District Commander Peretz Amar told reporters at the scene that the explosion was caused by a bomb that was carried by the man.

"It is difficult to identify the body," he said. "We know that he is not an innocent civilian, but somebody who was carrying an explosive device."

"Was this criminal or a [terror] attack? The identity of the man is crucial to determining this," he said, adding that the possibility of a terrorist attack was heightened by early findings at the scene of the blast.

According to Amar, a passerby who was also injured in the explosion might be able to assist in the probe. The Tel Aviv Police District commander also told outlets that the man worked alone and had no accomplices.

The Israel National News reported that the person who died was a 50-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the scene on Lehi Street. The outlet reported that a 33-year-old man was moderately injured by shrapnel and hospitalized.

Reports state that police received dozens of emergency calls and that citizens and officers reporting scattered body parts in the street. The blast caused significant damage to a truck, but police assert that the explosive device was carried by the man himself.

The Israel Security Agency, better known by the acronyms Shabak or Shin Bet, is also investigating the explosion, according to reports.

Newsweek emailed the Israel Police on Sunday for comment.

Sunday's explosion comes amid a pattern of escalating violence since the start of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The conflict began with a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, by Hamas that Israeli officials estimate left about 1,200 people dead and around 240 more taken hostage, around half of whom are believed to remain in captivity. The Gaza Health Ministry has estimated that approximately 40,000 have been killed by Israel in the densely populated territory throughout the war that ensued.

The escalation also occurs as President Joe Biden's administration pushes for a breakthrough in long-stalled Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks.

The ongoing violence in the West Bank and Gaza has raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. There are fears that the situation could involve Iran and its proxies in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Against this backdrop of increasing hostilities, a new round of peace talks is scheduled to resume next week in Doha, Qatar. These negotiations aim to bring an end to the 10-month-long fighting in Gaza. However, the recent surge in violence casts uncertainty over the prospects for a peaceful resolution.

Update: 8/18/24, 5:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.