Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday instructed the IDF to heighten its alert and be prepared for any possible scenario in Gaza ahead of October 7, which falls on Wednesday, in light of intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to try to carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers in Gaza on that day.
This comes “in light of intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to launch attacks against our forces in the area on that day,” the ministry said.
Katz stressed that the IDF must prepare for the worst and act with great force in response to any intelligence and warning to thwart any threat, beyond the intensive activity already underway. “If, God forbid, our troops are harmed, Hamas and the population of Gaza will be the ones to pay a heavy price, beyond all proportion,” Katz said.
A similar message was also issued when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Katz, visited Kissufim on the Gaza border together with the head of the IDF Southern Command.
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director David Zini warned the Security Cabinet on Monday that Hamas is planning to kidnap soldiers, The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.
Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot responded to the defense minister’s announcement ordering heightened alert in light of intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to carry out an attack.
“The defense minister’s announcement this morning is an indictment against the government of October 7,” Eisenkot said.
“It is a reminder to every citizen of Israel: The government responsible for the failure has suffered a resounding failure in achieving the goals that it itself set. Three years after October 7, Hamas is still the sovereign in the Gaza Strip, and its terrorists still pose a threat to the citizens of Israel,” he added.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.