Hamas admits sending suicide bomber to Tel Aviv, ceasefire talks continue

A view of the explosion site after a blast kills at least one and injures one in Tel Aviv, Israel on August 18. Photo / Getty Images

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 Blinken, saying he backed the latest US ceasefire proposal, which Hamas rejected late on Sunday.

Before the meeting, 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”.

The ceasefire talks have reached a critical moment, with Israel understanding that “now is the time” to strike a deal, an Israeli official told The Telegraph.

The official added that the issue of the Philadelphi corridor, a buffer zone separating Gaza from Egypt, was very sensitive but the framework reached in May had been largely discussed.

A senior Israeli official told The Telegraph: “Netanyahu is looking for any excuse not to sign the deal. He understands that if there is a deal to stop the war, his government will fall.

“The worst thing that could happen from his perspective is if Hamas suddenly agrees to the terms.”

Netanyahu has repeated that Israel will not give up control of the Philadelphi corridor following reports indicating that Israel had agreed to compromise on the issue to reach a ceasefire with Hamas.

There are “serial leakers who are harming the ability to advance a deal”, the Prime Minister’s office said, adding that Israel must maintain control of the Philadelphi corridor “in order to prevent terrorist elements from rearming”.

The issue of the corridor is seen as one of the main sticking points, with Hamas and Egypt both opposing a permanent Israeli control of the buffer zone.

Hamas, which did not take part in the talks in Doha last week, held Netanyahu responsible for “thwarting the mediators’ efforts and obstructing an agreement”, claiming that he “sets new conditions and demands”.

Delegations from the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel are scheduled to meet in Cairo this week to continue talks, but it is unclear if Hamas will decide to stay away again.

Polls in recent months have consistently shown that most Israelis favour a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would free the 115 remaining hostages.

Both Netanyahu and Hamas have been accused of deliberately torpedoing the talks, a claim both deny.