Israel Warns Hamas: Hostage Capture Means Evacuating Gaza City

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stark warning to Hamas and its supporters on Tuesday, stating that the abduction of an Israeli soldier or citizen would trigger the evacuation of Gaza City's entire population of one million people to the south, followed by extensive military operations.

Gallant delivered these remarks at a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers of the Yom Kippur War, 53 years after the conflict. He addressed Hamas, Iran, and Turkey's President Erdogan, declaring, "If even one Israeli soldier or citizen is abducted, the entire city of Gaza, with its homes and terror towers, will be evacuated south with its million residents."

He elaborated that in such a scenario, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would operate in Gaza City similarly to how they have in Rafah, Beit Hanoun, and other areas of the Strip, until the captive is returned. "This is the language that jihadist terror organizations in Gaza and Lebanon understand, and this is the language we speak: population evacuation, destruction of infrastructure, and taking territory," Gallant stated.

The Defense Minister affirmed that Israel would not retreat from its security line in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is removed and the Strip is demilitarized of weapons and tunnels. He also mentioned that following the October 7th Hamas attack, the IDF has established security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, beyond the border, to prevent jihadist groups from establishing positions near Israeli communities. These zones are cleared of residents, and the IDF is actively destroying terror infrastructure above and below ground.

Gallant also addressed the conflict with Iran, claiming Israel has neutralized the nuclear annihilation threat, eliminated Iran's leader Ali Khamenei, and destroyed strategic capabilities that set Tehran back years. He vowed further action if necessary to topple the regime.

Drawing parallels to the Yom Kippur War, Gallant highlighted the critical mistake of not mobilizing reserve forces and launching a preemptive strike. He credited the IDF's efforts in turning the war into a military victory, which later paved the way for the peace treaty with Egypt, as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat realized he could not defeat Israel even with a surprise attack.

The minister concluded by honoring fallen soldiers and pledging to continue commemorating them and working to return the remains of unknown Yom Kippur War casualties, emphasizing their enduring inspiration for current IDF operations.