Hamas has claimed responsibility for an attempted suicide bombing in Tel Aviv as Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, arrived in Israel to push for what he called “the last opportunity” to reach a ceasefire.
A bomb exploded in the suspect’s backpack on Sunday night, killing him instantly and wounding a passerby. Hamas said the blast was conducted in co-operation with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and vowed to continue attacks in Israel.
Its statement came as the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, hailed a “positive” three-hour meeting with Mr Blinken, saying he backed the latest US ceasefire proposal, which Hamas rejected late on Sunday.
Before the meeting, Mr Blinken met with Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, telling him: “This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire.”
He added it was time for Hamas and Israel “to not look for any excuses to say no”.