Powerful explosion, suspected drone attack near US embassy in Tel Aviv

Concerning scenes are unfolding in Israel where there are reports of a powerful explosion near the US embassy branch in Tel Aviv.

A powerful explosion in Tel Aviv near the US embassy branch has killed one person.

The Israeli army said it “increased its air patrols in order to protect Israeli airspace” in the wake of the blast in a building before 4am local time that did not trigger the air raid sirens.

The army said an initial inquiry found it was “caused by the falling of an aerial target”.

It was a suspected drone attack, according to multiple reports.

The building is about one block from the US embassy branch, The Australian reported.

A powerful explosion went off in a building in Tel Aviv on July 19. Picture: Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP

One person is dead and two are lightly injured, an Israeli emergency services spokesman told AFP.

Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said the body was found in the building bearing injuries caused by shrapnel.

The air raid sirens were not activated and one person was killed. Picture: Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP

An earlier police report had said seven people were lightly injured, but they were mainly in a state of shock, Zaki Heller of the Magen David Adom services said.

Police inspecting the area for suspicious objects earlier called on “residents to respect safety instructions and not to approach or touch debris or shrapnel that may contain explosives.”

Soon after the explosion the Israeli fire brigade said a drone strike was a possible cause, according to The Telegraph.

Israeli policemen search the scene, which is near the US embassy. Picture: Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP

Netanyahu vows more pressure on militants

During the more than nine months of war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently vowed to eradicate Hamas and bring home all the hostages.

On Tuesday, he said “we are hurting” Hamas and this is “exactly the time to increase the pressure even more.”

He told parliament: “We have got them by the throat.”

Far-right members of his governing coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, oppose a truce deal.

On Thursday, Ben Gvir said Netanyahu must not make a “surrender” accord with Hamas.

The war began with Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still in Gaza including 42 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel’s military retaliation has killed at least 38,848 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The latest toll issued Thursday included 54 deaths in the past 24 hours, it said.

All health facilities in southern Gaza have been pushed to “breaking point” due to an influx of people wounded by Israeli bombardments, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday.

On Saturday Gaza’s health ministry said at least 90 people were killed and 300 injured at the Al-Mawasi camp for displaced people. Israel said it was targeting military commanders behind the October 7 attack.

– with AFP