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Israel-Gaza crisis: 'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv Israel-Gaza crisis: 'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv
(35 minutes later)
At least 10 people have been injured in an explosion on a bus in Israel's commercial capital, Tel Aviv, in what one Israeli official described as a "terrorist attack". At least 21 people have been injured in an explosion on a bus in Israel's commercial capital, Tel Aviv, in what one Israeli official described as a "terrorist attack".
After the incident, near military headquarters, huge blasts were heard in Gaza - an apparent Israeli strike on the football stadium. After the incident, near a military headquarters, huge blasts were heard in Gaza - an apparent Israeli strike on the football stadium.
Eleven people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said.Eleven people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said.
International efforts to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel continue. Efforts to broker a truce between the Hamas movement and Israel continue.
After eight days of exchanges of fire between Israel and Gaza, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Cairo for talks with the Egyptian president. After eight days of exchanges of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Cairo for talks with the Egyptian president.
In the immediate aftermath of the bus bombing, there was a palpable sense of shock hanging in the air around the scene.
Israel's largest city has seen nothing like this for six-and-a-half years.
One resident - when told that the news of the explosion broadcast from mosques in Gaza has been greeted with a sound of celebratory gunfire there - said that they need to celebrate this as some kind of victory because they have nothing else to offer but violence.
A police helicopter still circled overhead and there were roadblocks at many main junctions around the scene as police hunted for the bomber or bombers seen running away from the scene.
Paradoxically, the explosion and the waves of Israeli air raids on Gaza this morning do not necessarily mean that the search for a ceasefire is dead.
It may mean that both sides are sending a signal that if a deal is agreed, they will be reaching it from what they regard as a position of strength.
The search for a diplomatic solution reaches a critical phase this afternoon when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi - the only leader with effective lines of communication both to Israel and to Hamas.
Earlier, she and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.Earlier, she and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Militants in Gaza have been firing more rockets at Israel.Militants in Gaza have been firing more rockets at Israel.
Celebratory gunfireCelebratory gunfire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter account that the explosion was caused by a bomb and that it was "terrorist attack". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter account that the explosion was caused by a bomb and that it was a "terrorist attack".
Emergency services say three of the wounded in the bus explosion are in a serious condition. Of the 21 injured, three were suffering from moderate to light injuries - including shrapnel wounds and burns - and were undergoing surgery, a spokesman for the Ichilov medical centre in Tel Aviv said.
Six had already been released and the rest were suffering from anxiety, he said.
The bus was reportedly passing the military headquarters in the city at the time of the blast.The bus was reportedly passing the military headquarters in the city at the time of the blast.
Police believe a bomb was planted on the bus and they are still searching for a suspect.Police believe a bomb was planted on the bus and they are still searching for a suspect.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the injured were being taken to Ichilov hospital. Hamas, the Islamist movement which has governed Gaza since 2007, has praised the attack but has not said it was behind the blast.
Loudspeaker announcements in Gaza City said that Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that has run Gaza since 2007, had carried out the attack. Celebratory gunfire reportedly rang out in Gaza when local radio relayed news of the attack.
Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Reuters: "Hamas blesses the attack in Tel Aviv and sees it as a natural response to the Israeli massacres... in Gaza." BBC correspondents then reported a series of massive explosions in Gaza, in an apparent Israeli strike on the sports stadium. Reports from Gaza say the stadium has in the past been used a site to launch rockets.
Celebratory gunfire reportedly rang out when local radio relayed news of the attack.
BBC correspondents then reported a series of massive explosions in Gaza, in an apparent Israeli strike on the sports stadium.
According to Israel's ministry of foreign affairs, the last bomb attack in Tel Aviv was in April 2006, when a suicide bombing on a restaurant killed 11.According to Israel's ministry of foreign affairs, the last bomb attack in Tel Aviv was in April 2006, when a suicide bombing on a restaurant killed 11.
'Profound concern''Profound concern'
The bus blast comes on the eighth day of exchanges between Israel and militants in Gaza. The bus blast comes on the eighth day of the current flare-up in violence between Israel and militants in Gaza.
Some 139 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed. Some 147 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed.
Overnight, Israel's military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said it had attacked more than 100 sites in Gaza "of which approximately 50 were underground rocket launchers". In other developments:
A key Hamas government compound was reduced to little more than dust and rubble, the BBC's Paul Danahar in Gaza says.
  • Overnight, Israel's military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said it had attacked more than 100 sites in Gaza - about half of them underground rocket launchers
  • A key Hamas government compound was reduced to little more than dust and rubble, the BBC's Paul Danahar in Gaza says, in what was probably the largest Israeli attack so far
  • Iran has admitted sending military aid to Hamas - parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani said Iran was "proud" to provide assistance "both financial and military"
    •
Our correspondent says this was probably the largest attack so far - on a compound that organises Hajj visits, issues passports and licences and houses a Hamas interior ministry office.
Other sites hit in Gaza included a banker's villa, tunnels to Egypt used by smugglers and a media office, said to be linked to Hamas, that was situated two floors above the Agence France-Presse office in Gaza City.Other sites hit in Gaza included a banker's villa, tunnels to Egypt used by smugglers and a media office, said to be linked to Hamas, that was situated two floors above the Agence France-Presse office in Gaza City.
The IDF said 62 rockets fired by militants from Gaza had hit Israel so far on Wednesday, while another 20 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system.The IDF said 62 rockets fired by militants from Gaza had hit Israel so far on Wednesday, while another 20 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system.
The latest violence will further complicate ceasefire discussions taking place in the region.The latest violence will further complicate ceasefire discussions taking place in the region.
Mrs Clinton and Mr Ban have been in the West Bank for talks with Mr Abbas.
The two international mediators are both expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi in Cairo.The two international mediators are both expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi in Cairo.
In the West Bank, Mr Ban expressed "profound concern" at the civilian casualties in Gaza and also called on militants to end immediately their "indiscriminate attacks on Israeli population centres".In the West Bank, Mr Ban expressed "profound concern" at the civilian casualties in Gaza and also called on militants to end immediately their "indiscriminate attacks on Israeli population centres".
Mrs Clinton held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before heading to Cairo.Mrs Clinton held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before heading to Cairo.
Officials from Hamas had suggested on Tuesday that a truce would come into effect at midnight, but Israel later said it had not agreed to a text.Officials from Hamas had suggested on Tuesday that a truce would come into effect at midnight, but Israel later said it had not agreed to a text.
Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and targeted killings by Israel.Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and targeted killings by Israel.
Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari. The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, is designed to end rocket fire from Gaza.Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari. The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, is designed to end rocket fire from Gaza.
Israel has troops massed along the Gaza border but says it is holding off on a possible ground invasion as talks continue.Israel has troops massed along the Gaza border but says it is holding off on a possible ground invasion as talks continue.
Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your experiences using the form below.