Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz put the military on high alert on Tuesday ahead of the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, warning that Gazans would pay a "heavy price" if Israeli forces were harmed.
Katz's office said the instruction came "in light of intelligence regarding Hamas's intentions to attempt to carry out attacks and terror operations against our forces in Gaza on that day". The minister's statement added: "If, heaven forbid, our forces are harmed, the ones who will pay the heavy price will be Hamas and the population of Gaza — beyond all proportion."
The alert follows warnings from Israel's Shin Bet chief David Zini, who told the Security Cabinet that Hamas was planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers, according to ABP Live. Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot criticised the announcement itself, calling it an "indictment" of the government's failures since October 7 and saying Hamas remained the sovereign power in Gaza.
Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault was the deadliest day in Israel's history, killing 1,221 people according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures, with 251 hostages dragged into Gaza, 44 of them already dead. Israel's military response has killed more than 74,200 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
On Monday, during a state ceremony marking three years since the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be "no Hamas rule in Gaza" and vowed to keep targeting anyone involved in the attack or holding hostages. Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, the ministry says.
Sources:
The Hindu: Israel puts military on alert for October 7 anniversary, warns Gazans
ABP Live: Israel claims Hamas may attack Israeli troops on October 7, orders IDF to heighten alert
Katz's office said the instruction came "in light of intelligence regarding Hamas's intentions to attempt to carry out attacks and terror operations against our forces in Gaza on that day". The minister's statement added: "If, heaven forbid, our forces are harmed, the ones who will pay the heavy price will be Hamas and the population of Gaza — beyond all proportion."
The alert follows warnings from Israel's Shin Bet chief David Zini, who told the Security Cabinet that Hamas was planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers, according to ABP Live. Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot criticised the announcement itself, calling it an "indictment" of the government's failures since October 7 and saying Hamas remained the sovereign power in Gaza.
Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault was the deadliest day in Israel's history, killing 1,221 people according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures, with 251 hostages dragged into Gaza, 44 of them already dead. Israel's military response has killed more than 74,200 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
On Monday, during a state ceremony marking three years since the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be "no Hamas rule in Gaza" and vowed to keep targeting anyone involved in the attack or holding hostages. Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, the ministry says.
Sources:
The Hindu: Israel puts military on alert for October 7 anniversary, warns Gazans
ABP Live: Israel claims Hamas may attack Israeli troops on October 7, orders IDF to heighten alert
