In the bustling heart of Tel Aviv, a chilling echo of the past nearly shattered Israel's fragile peace. On August 18, a Hamas terrorist detonated an 18-pound explosive device near a synagogue, miraculously failing to claim innocent lives due to a premature detonation. The incident has left Israeli security forces grappling with a harrowing question: Is Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's enigmatic leader, orchestrating a return to the dark days of suicide attacks?
The failed bombing, jointly claimed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has sent shockwaves through Israel's security establishment. Tel Aviv District Police Commander Peretz Amar's words hang heavy: "Had it not detonated outside, it could have caused catastrophic damage."
This latest attack comes amid intensifying IDF operations in Gaza, which have decimated much of Hamas's top military leadership. Sinwar, feeling the pressure, appears to be seeking new fronts to alleviate the strain on Gaza and bolster Palestinian morale.
Yet, the true intentions behind Hamas's official declaration to renew suicide attacks remain murky. Israeli security officials are divided—is this a genuine strategic shift or merely propaganda?
The attack has raised concerns about potential copycat incidents, with terrorist organizations leveraging social media to amplify the Tel Aviv attack and incite further violence. Security forces have observed an increasing use of explosive devices by terrorist groups over the past two years, with some manufactured in northern Samaria and others smuggled from Iran through Syria and Jordan.
Adding to the complexity is the leadership of Hamas's military wing in Judea and Samaria, believed to be directed by Zaher al-Jabarin. Al-Jabarin, who replaced Saleh al-Arouri after his targeted killing by Israeli Mossad in Beirut, is now one of Israel's top targets. He resides in Turkey and is reportedly close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The specter of the Second Intifada looms large, a grim reminder of a time when suicide bombings tore through the fabric of Israeli society. Now, as then, the stakes couldn't be higher.
As Israel's security forces race to unravel this latest threat, the tenuous peace in the region hangs by a thread, with Hamas holding the scissors.
* Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.
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