Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to raise alertness in Gaza and prepare for all scenarios ahead of the October 7 anniversary, citing intelligence indicating Hamas intends to launch attacks against Israeli forces on that day, his office said. Katz emphasized that any harm to IDF troops will be met with a disproportionate response, beyond all proportion.
Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF on Tuesday morning to raise its alert level in the Gaza Strip and prepare for any scenario ahead of the October 7 anniversary, his office said, citing intelligence that Hamas intends to attempt attacks and terror acts against Israeli forces on that day. Katz stressed that the IDF must be ready for worst-case scenarios and act with force, and warned that any harm to troops would be met with a response 'beyond all proportion.'
The Zioneer first reported the directive at 09:22 Jerusalem time. Additional details followed at 09:25, including the defense minister's explicit warning that 'Hamas and the population of Gaza will pay a heavy price, beyond all proportion' if Israeli forces are harmed. A further statement from Katz's office at 09:44 reiterated the warning and noted that both the prime minister and defense minister had conveyed the same message during a visit to the Kisufim outpost on the Gaza border earlier this week with the OC Southern Command.
The instruction comes as Israel prepares for the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, with the defense establishment underscoring its commitment to preempting any threat. The Zioneer reported at 09:22 that Katz had ordered the heightened readiness, and the subsequent statements confirmed the intelligence basis and the forceful response policy.
4 developments
- ConfirmedKatz Confirms IDF Eliminated Hamas Operatives Tuesday, Says Strikes Continue from Security Zone
- DevelopingIDF continues routine strikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip
- StrongIDF braces for Hamas retaliation after wave of targeted assassinations, i24NEWS reports
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz: IDF instructed to prepare for all-out war against PA if Oct. 7-style attack occurs
Source and signal
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