Israel's Defense Minister has warned that if one Israeli is kidnapped, the entire city of Gaza will be evacuated.
What happened
The Defense Minister made the statement during a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Yom Kippur War, citing various intelligence suggesting that Hamas intends to kidnap Israelis. He warned that if a soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the city of Gaza will be evacuated, with its residents forced to leave their homes.
The minister's statement comes amid a series of targeted killings of Hamas commanders in the Gaza Strip, including the commander of the Rafah brigade, Na'il Abu 'Abed, who was involved in the kidnapping and holding of Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The Israeli military has been on high alert in recent weeks, with forces deployed in the Gaza Strip and along the border, following intelligence suggesting that Hamas may attempt to retaliate against Israeli actions.
Opposition politicians have criticized the minister's statement, with one calling it a
