Israel Warns Hamas: Kidnapping Israeli Will Lead to Gaza City Evacuation
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas on Tuesday, stating that if a single Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire city of Gaza will be evacuated southward.
Speaking at the memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers of the Yom Kippur War at the National Memorial Hall on Mount Herzl, Katz emphasized the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) readiness on multiple fronts. He asserted that the IDF is currently positioned in powerful security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, areas cleared of residents.
Katz declared that Israel will not retreat from its current positions in Gaza to new lines within the Strip "as long as Hamas is not removed and Gaza is not demilitarized of weapons and tunnels." He added that "in light of various intentions and intelligence," he was issuing the warning to the terrorist organization and its supporters, from Iran to Turkey.
The minister's statement signals a significant escalation in rhetoric, directly linking any potential abduction attempt to a drastic measure affecting Gaza's civilian population.
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