Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas on Tuesday against attempting to kidnap a soldier or a civilian, during an address at a memorial ceremony for the fallen of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
“In light of various intentions and intelligence reports, I hereby warn the terrorist organization [Hamas] and its supporters, from Iran to [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan,” Katz said at the National Memorial Hall for Fallen Soldiers at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.
“If even one Israeli soldier or civilian is abducted, the city of Gaza—with its homes and terrorist towers—will be evacuated southward of its one million residents,” he continued, “and it will be dealt with in the same manner in which Rafah and Beit Hanoun and 70% of the Gaza Strip were dealt with, until he is returned.”
He further stated, “This is the language that the jihadist terrorist organizations in Gaza and Lebanon understand, and this is the language we speak: evacuating the population, destroying the infrastructure, and taking the territory.”
AFSI Insight
Israel Katz’s warning makes clear that Hamas will face severe consequences for any attempt to abduct another Israeli soldier or civilian. AFSI has long emphasized that deterrence requires credible consequences—not empty threats. Hamas must understand that hostage-taking will not provide leverage but will instead bring intensified pressure against its terrorist infrastructure and control of Gaza. Israel’s refusal to withdraw from strategic security zones until Hamas is dismantled and Gaza is demilitarized is central to preventing another October 7.
Source:
Katz: Gaza City to be ‘evacuated’ if Hamas kidnaps Israeli soldier or civilian, by JNS Staff