On Monday, a bus bombing in Jerusalem claimed by a Hamas terror cell based in the West Bank injured 20 people and killing the 19-year old suspected bomber.
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The statement said the suspects admitted carrying out the attacks during questioning by the Shin Bet internal security agency and the police department dedicated to nationalist crimes.
“We will discover who prepared this explosive charge, we will reach those who sent them and those behind them, we will hold these terrorists accountable”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the attack. The settlers scrawled graffiti on the homes calling for revenge.
The service’s interrogation of suspects apprehended a year ago revealed that the group’s attacks on other minorities, as well as arson and vandalism of Palestinian cars, including rock attacks.
It was the latest such demolition carried out by Israel as a deterrent, but which human rights groups say amounts to collective punishment.
Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have fed the recent unrest. One woman later died of her wounds.
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since October and almost 30 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks.
On Monday, Israeli police and rescue officials confirmed 21 people were injured, two of them seriously, when the number 12 city bus exploded on Moshe Baram Street in the Talpiot neighborhood at about 5:45 pm, setting the bus on fire.
There has been a seven-month wave of Palestinian attacks mostly stabbings, shootings and vehicular attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. At least 189 Palestinians have been killed.
Israel blames incitement by Palestinian leaders and media as a main cause of the violence.
The current round of bloodshed was triggered in September by unrest at a major Jerusalem shrine revered by both Muslims and Jews, and quickly spread to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza border.
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He added that Hamas will not initiate negotiations with Israel unless it admits the previous deal, referring to the demand to release Palestinian prisoners.
