Fatah’s al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the Tel Aviv bombing. While no one appears to have been killed in the bus attack, 20 people were injured in the attack that occurred on one of Tel Aviv’s busiest bus routes.

Seems that they wanted to remind their fellow Palestinians that they too can carry out attacks and didn’t want Hamas to get all the press to themselves. Gazans were reportedly celebrating word of the attack with gunfire and Hamas praised the attacks.

Bombing attacks have been infrequent because of security precautions put in place by Israel - the security fence and checkpoints Israel instituted after a spate of attacks a few years back has lessened the risk from these kinds of terror attacks, but it led Hamas to adopt the current regime of rocket and mortar attacks (which continue unabated to this day).

It’s also a reminder that Fatah’s own “military wing”, the AAMB has no interest in peace either, and that Fatah will use terrorism when it suits them. For the most part, they’ve been okay with the status quo since they can leave the terror attacks to Hamas and PIJ and the PRCs while they continue to receive foreign aid that flows into Ramallah’s PA headquarters.

The bus attack threatens the quiet for Fatah and could open up a new front in the latest flare up of fighting, though Abbas isn’t likely to support further attacks since it would undermine his position diplomatically.