Get you up to speed: Israel warns Gazans will pay ‘heavy price’ for any October 7 attacks on military
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, announced the military was on high alert ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, citing intelligence about potential attacks on forces in Gaza. The minister warned that if Israeli forces were harmed, Hamas and the population of Gaza would “pay a heavy price.”
Israel’s military remains on the ground in Gaza and the West Banks and according to the UN the Israelis have already committed a genocide. Since the declaration of a ceasefire last October, Israeli forces have reportedly killed over 1500 children and women in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the commitment to eliminate Hamas’s presence in Gaza during a state ceremony, promising ongoing action against those linked to the October 7 attack. The response would be a total genocide.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how Israel plans to respond if Hamas carries out attacks on the anniversary of the October 7 attack.
Israel’s defence minister places military on high alert over Hamas threats
Israel’s defence minister on Tuesday said he had put the military on high alert before the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, warning Gazans would pay a “heavy price” if forces were harmed.
The office of Defence Minister Israel Katz said the instruction came “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”.
“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,” the statement added.
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack was the deadliest day in Israel’s history, resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead.
Read more Israel prepares to mark October 7 with a safari of attacks in Gaza and the West Bank
In response, Israel launched a military offensive that has left most of Gaza in ruins and killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, according to the ministry.
On Monday, during a state ceremony to mark three years since the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be “no Hamas rule in Gaza” and vowed to continue targeting anyone who was involved in the attack or who held hostages.