I have moved this post to the top because I’ve updated it several times.
There was a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv this morning claimed by Islamic Jihad. So far 6 people are dead and 35 people are wounded. If Hamas really seeks peace with Israel, it can wipe out Islamic Jihad.
AP via NY Times:
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up near a fast-food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday Monday, killing six people and wounding at least 35.
It was the first suicide bombing in Israel since the Hamas militant group took over the Palestinian government 2 1/2 weeks ago.
The Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility in a telephone call to The Associated Press. The attack came a day after the group had pledged to carry out more attacks…
UPDATE 1: According to Haaretz, Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has ALSO claimed this terrorist bombing. And Hamas has claimed that it is an act of self-defense! Will this show the world their true faces?
According to the Jerusalem Post this particular fast-food stand had been targeted previously.
At least seven people were reported killed not including the suicide bomber, and at least 50 wounded, 15 seriously, as a result of the blast.
Haaretz: Palestinian militants threaten to attack Jews abroad, kidnap Israelis. Al Aqsa says it will target ‘Zionists outside Palestine,’ if Palestinian prisoners are not released.
UPDATE 2 Quoting Haaretz:
A Palestinian suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded at least 40 others, six of them seriously, in an explosion near the old central bus station in southern Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon.
Two of the victims died after they had arrived at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. Of the wounded, six were seriously hurt, 12 sustained moderate wounds and the rest were lightly hurt. [SNIP]
Palestinian sources identified the bomber as Samer Salim Hammed, a 16-year-old Islamic Jihad member from a village near the West Bank city of Jenin.
Hammed is thought to be the youngest terrorist ever to carry out a suicide bombing.
In a video released by the group, Hammed said the bombing was dedicated to the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. “There are many other bombers on the way,” he said. [SNIP]
UPDATE 3: A 9th person has died from the attack.
UPDATE 4: Now I’m seeing reports that the bomber may have been all of 21 years old. Some victims have been identified but no names have been released yet.
UPDATE 5: Eight victims have been identified so far: 60-year-old Victor Erez of Givatayim (Ch. 2 via Haaretz), 45-year-old Philip Balahsan from Ashdod, whose two children (Ynet News) were wounded in the attack and remain hospitalized at this time, (Arutz Sheva). Benjamin Hafuta, 47, of Lod (Israel Radio via Haaretz) One of the dead was the restaurant’s security guard (who was cut in half). The names of two female victims…have been published: Rosalia Basnia, 48, and Bodha Firoshka, 50, both foreign workers from Romania. Also David Shaulov, 29, from Holon, and Lily Yunes, 42, from Oranit (Ynet News) and Ariel Darhi of Bat Yam (J Post). 36 still hospitalized, including a critically injured American tourist, a 16-year-old boy (Israel Radio via Haaretz). I am now listening to Israel National Radio in English (right-wing, settlers) – just realized the show is NOT live but rather from earlier today. The news briefs seem to be live though.
AP via NY Times:
The deadly blast struck down a woman right in front of her husband and children. ”The children screamed, ‘Mom! Mom!’ but she didn’t answer, she was dead already,” said Israel Yaakov, a witness to the carnage. He said the youngsters apparently suffered only slight physical injury….Hospital staff said the bomb was packed with a large number of nails and metal bolts to maximize the carnage.
Ynet News: Son of Tel Aviv bombing victim Philip Balhasan recounts moments of horror before his father died
Haaretz ANALYSIS / Tel Aviv bombing was inconvenient for Hamas
The image of Hamas as a terror government damages efforts to end financial woes, int’l isolation.
UPDATE 6: According to Haaretz, U.S. teenager hurt in Tel Aviv attack still in serious condition. Here are profiles of some of the victims
SOME BLOGGERS HAVE NOW COMMENTED:
Sister Toldjah
Captain’s Quarters
Michelle Malkin
Jawa Report
Aside from Raw Story (which simply links to the J Post), the lefty blogs apparently just don’t care. Let’s see if any of the dead are US citizens.