Israel has placed its military on high alert ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning that Gaza could face severe consequences if Israeli forces are targeted.
Katz ordered the heightened alert on Tuesday, saying intelligence indicated that Hamas could attempt to launch attacks or other militant operations against Israeli troops in Gaza as the anniversary approaches.
According to the defence minister’s office, the instruction was issued “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”.
Katz also issued a warning over any possible attack on Israeli forces, saying Hamas and Gaza’s population would face serious consequences if Israeli troops were harmed.
“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,” he said.
The October 7, 2023 attack remains the deadliest day in Israel’s history. According to figures based on official Israeli data, 1,221 people were killed during the assault.
Hamas-led militants also took 251 hostages into Gaza. Of those hostages, 44 are reported to have already died.
Israel responded to the attack with a major military campaign across Gaza. The offensive has devastated large parts of the territory and, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has killed more than 74,200 people.
The ministry operates under Hamas authorities, while the United Nations has regarded its casualty figures as reliable.
Even after a ceasefire was declared last October, violence has continued. Gaza’s health ministry says Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in the territory since the ceasefire began.
The latest warning comes as Israel prepares to mark three years since the October 7 attack.
At a state ceremony on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not allow Hamas to retain control of Gaza and vowed that those responsible for the attack, as well as those involved in holding hostages, would continue to be targeted.
“There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza,” Netanyahu said.
The anniversary is therefore being marked amid continued tensions, with Israeli authorities preparing for possible attacks while the conflict’s heavy human toll continues to shape the situation in Gaza.
Source: AFP.
