RISHON LETZION, Israel ? Twin Palestinian suicide bombings — one at a bus stop crowded with soldiers near Tel Aviv, the second five hours later at a popular Jerusalem nightspot — killed at least 14 Israelis and wounded and maimed dozens as the region grappled with a new wave of savage bloodletting.

There were no claims of responsibility, but the Islamic militant group Hamas, which has carried out most of the roughly 100 suicide bombings against Israelis over the last three years, had been expected to avenge Israel’s attempt on the life of its spiritual leader on Saturday.

In one Gaza neighborhood, Palestinians fired assault rifles in the air and about 100 took to the streets in celebration after the attack on the cafe. In the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, some Hamas supporters celebrated by distributing candies to the families of those killed in previous violence.

Israel’s military has relentlessly targeted Hamas militants since the group claimed a suicide bombing last month that killed 22 people on a Jerusalem bus. Earlier Tuesday, Israeli troops in Hebron killed two Hamas members — including the group’s leader in the West Bank town — and a 12-year-old bystander, and blew up a seven-story apartment building where the militants were hiding out.

Road map collapse

The day’s violence underscored the collapse of U.S.-backed peace efforts and came amid political uncertainty after the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

An increasing number of Israeli officials were calling for the expulsion of Yasser Arafat, and expectations were mounting that Israel will step up military strikes and possibly invade the Gaza Strip — which Israel has not yet reoccupied — to root out the Hamas leadership.

The first bombing came about 6 p.m., as soldiers were waiting for rides home outside the Tsrifin army base near the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon Letzion.

Cpl. Eyal Schneider, 20, was walking toward the bus stop when he heard the explosion and saw a fireball. “People were running from the bus stop shouting ‘bomb! bomb!”‘ he said.

An Israeli police officer, right, secures the area as forensic experts, police officers and rescue personnel work at the site of an explosion at a bus stop near the central Israeli town of Rishon Letzion. Two suicide bombers struck Tuesday in Israel, killing at least 14 people and injuring scores.

Ambulances from nearby Assaf Harofeh hospital quickly lined up at the scene, rescue workers rushing to aid screaming victims.

“I saw the bodies, the body parts strewn around, heard the screams, and tried to help,” said one witness, who gave his name only as Roy.

Police and hospital officials said eight were killed in addition to the bomber. Fifteen people were being treated at the hospital, all but one of them soldiers, spokeswoman Nurit Nehemia said.

Leaders of Hamas praised the attacks but stopped short of claiming responsibility. “This operation, whoever is behind it, is a natural reaction for the bloody aggression against our people,” said Hamas spokesman Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who survived an Israeli attempt on his life in June.

Bombing No. 2

More than five hours later, about 11:20 p.m., another suicide bomber entered the Hillel Cafe, a popular bistro in the posh German colony neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Police said the bomber managed to get into the cafe even though two security guards were posted at the entrance — one inside the door and one outside. Jerusalem police commander Mickey Levy told Israel Radio that one of the guards saw the bomber and tried to stop him, and that he then set off the bomb.

At least six other people were killed and more than 30 were wounded, rescue workers said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan called the bombings “vicious attacks” and condemned them in the “strongest possible terms.”

McClellan said President Bush remained committed to the “road map” peace plan, but he said the bombings “underscore the need to fight terrorism and the need to dismantle terrorist organizations and groups like Hamas.”

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher emphasized “the urgency with which the Palestinian Authority needs to take immediate and effective steps to dismantle and disarm the terrorist capabilities.”

Abbas, the outgoing Palestinian premier, refused to do this by force, appealing to the militants to voluntarily lay down their arms. Abbas resigned on Saturday, frustrated with four months in office in which he repeatedly wrangled with Arafat and failed to persuade Israel to ease security measures imposed on Palestinians.

Ahmed Qureia, whom Arafat has asked to become the new Palestinian prime minister, expressed “our regrets and pain for the innocent lives (lost) as a result of violence and counter-violence” and called on Israeli leaders to “search for ways to end this killing.”