Israel Boosts Gaza Alert Ahead of October 7 Anniversary

The Israeli military (IDF) continues operations in the Gaza Strip, recently destroying a 1.5-kilometer underground tunnel in the northern part of the enclave. Forces from the Northern Brigade, under the command of Division 99, along with Southern Command engineering units, are working to clear areas east of the Gaza border fence of terror infrastructure. The IDF stated that forces in the Southern Command are deployed according to the ceasefire agreement and will continue to remove immediate threats.

In parallel, Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the IDF to increase vigilance and prepare for all scenarios ahead of the anniversary of the October 7th attacks, which falls on October 7th. This heightened alert is due to intelligence indicating Hamas's intentions to carry out attacks against IDF forces in Gaza. Katz emphasized the need for "serious preparation and strong action against any information and warning to thwart any threat," beyond ongoing operational activities.

The Defense Minister also issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that "if, God forbid, our forces are harmed, Hamas and the population of Gaza will pay a heavy price, beyond all proportion." These remarks followed a recent visit to Kibbutz Kissufim with the Prime Minister, where both leaders reiterated Israel's intention to respond forcefully to any harm to its forces.

The directive for increased preparedness has drawn criticism from residents of the Gaza envelope and the "Tzav 9" movement. They argue that the need for special preparations three years after the October 7th massacre indicates that Hamas remains a significant threat and has been rearming. They expressed concern over a "worrying gap between the political leadership's statements about defeating Hamas and the actual situation, where Hamas threatens our forces and prepares for the next massacre." The group called for the complete elimination of Hamas, not just its rule in Gaza, stating, "We will not settle for less than the complete defeat of the entire organization and not just its rule, without compromise."

Separately, at a memorial ceremony for October 7th, Head of the Shin Bet David Zinni stated, "We must not fall in love with what we already know. We are all required to ask, to challenge, to identify the change before it becomes a threat, and to be one step ahead of those who seek to harm us."