IDF Adds 3 Battalions to Judea and Samaria in Response to Bus Explosions in Metro Tel Aviv

Photo Credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

Forensic team at the scene of a bus bombing in Bat Yam, February 20, 2025.

The IDF will deploy three additional battalions as early as Friday morning to reinforce the Judea and Samaria region following the terrorist attacks in Bat Yam. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent security consultation Thursday night after coordinated attacks in Metropolitan Tel Aviv, in which explosives detonated on three empty buses. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Two additional explosive devices were discovered in Bat Yam and Holon.

The security establishment is increasingly convinced that the attackers intended to carry out a large-scale, multi-scene attack aimed at causing mass casualties. Had the buses departed with passengers on board, the toll could have reached hundreds of victims, God forbid. Security sources described the malfunction that prevented this outcome as nothing short of a miracle.

בסיום הערכת מצב ראשונית – כיוון החקירה המרכזי כרגע שמדובר בניסיון לפיגוע.
כל הנהגים בגוש דן קיבלו הנחיה לבדוק את האוטובוסים שלהם.

*יש מצוד אחר חשוד שנצפה נמלט מהזירה בבת ים*?? pic.twitter.com/Ljl2Eb2JOm

— מה חדש. What’s new❓ (@Gloz111) February 20, 2025

Police spokesman Aryeh Doron told Reshet Bet Radio: “It’s a miracle—we could have faced a major disaster.”

The commander of the Tel Aviv police district criticized the Shin Bet, stating, “This organization is responsible for preventing terrorist attacks. How did this happen? We should ask the Shin Bet.”

The Dan bus company CEO Ofir Karni told Kan11 News: “The incident began around 8:00 PM when the terminal manager received a call from a driver near the terminal. A female passenger had pointed out a suspicious bag on the bus, and the driver was instructed to quickly bring the bus to the terminal. Once the driver arrived, the foreman ordered everyone to evacuate the bus. As soon as they moved away, the explosion went off.”

Mahmoud Issawi, an eyewitness, told Reshet Bet: “I heard a loud explosion and ran outside to see a bus on fire. At first, I thought it was an electric bus, but given the strength of the blast, that didn’t make sense. It was an absolutely massive explosion.”

The unexploded bomb, weighing approximately 5 kg, had an inscription in Arabic reading: “Revenge from Tulkarm.” Hamas’s military wing in Tulkarm later hinted at responsibility for the attack, citing the ongoing IDF operations in the area. In a statement, Hamas’s Tulkarm Brigades declared, “The revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier is present on our land.”

A source in the Prime Minister’s Office stated Thursday night that Netanyahu takes the placement of bombs on buses very seriously and intends to order strong measures against terrorist elements in Judea and Samaria.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced following the situation assessment: “In response to the attempted mass attacks on buses, Prime Minister Netanyahu has concluded a security briefing with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, the Head of the Shin Bet, and the Police Commissioner. He has instructed the IDF to launch a powerful operation in Judea and Samaria targeting terrorist hotspots. Additionally, he has directed the Israel Police and Shin Bet to intensify preventive measures in Israeli cities to thwart further attacks.”

The IDF is actively targeting bomb-making labs in northern Samaria, as well as the supply routes used for their distribution. It is believed that the explosive devices were set with a timer intended for the morning hours but were mistakenly activated at night.

According to Israeli public transportation safety protocols, bus drivers are required to inspect their vehicles before each trip and at the end of each route.

Two weeks ago, Maariv reported on the type of explosive devices intended for use in bus attacks, following an IDF operation in Jenin that uncovered a vehicle carrying dozens of such devices. During the raid, Sayeret Haruv special force and Shin Bet operatives seized the vehicle along with the explosives. These are relatively small tube charges, weighing approximately 4–5 kg, with an attached activation mechanism. They are commonly found in northern Samaria. The main challenge lies in the dual nature of these explosives: they are both easy to assemble using readily available materials and are often manufactured in locations that appear innocuous.