Hamas Claims Responsibility for Deadly Tel Aviv Attack, Escalating Tensions

Hamas has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that left seven people dead and 16 others wounded. The militant group announced on Wednesday that two of its operatives from Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, carried out the shooting and stabbing spree near a light rail station in the busy Jaffa district of Tel Aviv.

The attackers, identified as Muhammad Masek, 19, and Ahmed Himoni, 25, entered a railcar and opened fire on passengers before moving on foot to stab pedestrians. Security forces and armed civilians responded quickly, neutralizing the attackers. Masek was killed at the scene, while Himoni was critically injured.

Emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with victims spread across several locations. First aid efforts were immediate, but despite their intervention, four victims were pronounced dead at the site of the attack. The incident, one of the deadliest in Tel Aviv in recent months, has sparked renewed concerns about escalating violence between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas had previously conducted an attack in Tel Aviv in August, and the group has vowed to continue its operations as long as the conflict in Gaza persists. Israeli authorities remain on high alert following this latest assault, as tensions in the region continue to rise.