Amid the third anniversary of the War of Revival and heightened preparations for the upcoming elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned today (Tuesday) that a weakened and exhausted Hamas might attempt to exploit this period to carry out terror attacks aimed at influencing Israel’s political landscape. At the same time, he issued an unequivocal warning to the state’s enemies: Israel is prepared for any scenario, will preemptively thwart any attempt to cause harm, and will respond with unprecedented force to any misstep they make.
The Prime Minister began his remarks with a deeply moving reference to the anniversary of the October 7 massacre, solemnly honoring the fallen of Israel’s wars and the victims of the horrific slaughter in the Gaza Envelope—women, men, children, and infants who were tortured and burned by Hamas terrorists. Netanyahu then presented a key operational figure: over the three years of fighting, 4,000 of the approximately 6,000 terrorists who invaded Israeli territory that day have been eliminated. He stated that “none of them have immunity” and affirmed the state’s determination to reach every one of them until Hamas’s rule in the Strip is completely eradicated.
Netanyahu spoke about two dramatic changes. The first is the fundamental shift in the Middle East’s balance of power, with Israel emerging as the region’s strongest state while its enemies languish in an unprecedented slump. The second change is the unprecedented resurgence of the “Tkuma” region and the northern communities. According to him, approximately 90 percent of residents have returned home, new neighborhoods are being established, and many young people are choosing to build their futures there—a fact he views as “the triumph of the human spirit over evil.”
The Prime Minister focused on potential attempts by the terrorist organization to rear its head as the elections approach. Netanyahu explained, “Precisely because Hamas is so weak, it will try to challenge us with its remaining strength ahead of the elections in an attempt to influence them.” Accordingly, he made it clear that security forces are fully prepared for any scenario, capable of thwarting threats in their infancy and exacting a heavy price from anyone attempting to test Israel. He concluded his message with a sweeping warning to all seven fronts: “Look at what we’ve done to you… don’t mess with us.”
Earlier today, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to heighten its state of readiness regarding the Gaza Strip significantly and to prepare for any potential offensive scenario initiated by Hamas. The directive was issued following intelligence indicating the organization’s intent to exploit this symbolic day to carry out attacks against IDF troops. Although there is no specific warning regarding a single, pinpointed plot, the move comes amid a series of security incidents in recent months—including ambush attempts, the detonation of explosive devices, and persistent concerns regarding attempts to kidnap troops.
Katz demanded sharper operational readiness and maximum vigilance. His office stated that the minister ordered the IDF to heighten alertness and prepare for any scenario, given intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to launch attacks against the forces on the anniversary. Katz emphasized to the operational echelon that no warning should be taken lightly; he directed them to act with great force and a heavy hand to thwart threats before they materialize, going beyond the routine operations currently underway in the Strip.
Concurrently, the Defense Minister issued an unequivocal warning to Hamas: should the IDF presence on the ground be harmed, the organization and the residents of the Strip would pay an extremely heavy price—one out of all proportion. This warning was reiterated during a visit this week to the Kissufim outpost by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister, alongside the Commander of the Southern Command.