In the city of Ramat Hasharon, northeast of Tel Aviv, a truck crashed into a bus at a stop and some people were trapped under the vehicles as Israelis returned to work after a week-long holiday.

In addition to being close to Mossad headquarters and a military base, the bus stop is also close to a central highway interchange.

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said six of the injured were in serious condition.

Israeli police spokesman Asi Aharoni told reporters that the attacker had been “neutralised”, without saying whether he was killed.

Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group praised the suspected attack but did not claim it.

Palestinians have committed numerous stabbings, shootings and car ramming attacks over the years.

Tensions have increased since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza Regular military raids on the occupied West Bank which caused the deaths of hundreds of people.

Most appear to have been militants killed during clashes with Israeli forces, but Palestinians and surrounding civilians participating in violent protests were also killed.

The military said another attack took place near a checkpoint in the West Bank, when a suspect tried to hit soldiers with his vehicle and then tried to stab them before being killed. It was stated that no soldiers were injured.