Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a stark warning during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers of the Yom Kippur War, threatening massive retaliation if Hamas attempts to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians along the Yellow Line in Gaza.
"If even one soldier or Israeli civilian is abducted, all of Gaza City, its buildings and terror towers, will be evacuated southward of its million residents, just as we did in Merkavot Gideon 2, and will be dealt with in the same manner as Rafah, Beit Hanoun, and 70% of Gaza's territory, until their return," Katz declared.
The statement drew sharp criticism from Amcha Yisrael chairman Brigadier General (Res.) Ofer Winter, who accused the defense minister of responding inadequately to intelligence warnings.
"The Defense Minister of the State of Israel is informing Israeli citizens that there are intelligence warnings that Hamas is planning to kidnap soldiers and civilians. All this after three years of war!" Winter said.
"Sorry??? You apparently forgot that this already happened --- on October 7, 251 soldiers and civilians were kidnapped. You got confused. Gaza should have been evacuated on the second day of the war, pushing the population southward. Instead of threatening, start implementing deportation!"
Winter continued his rebuke: "You have a warning that the terror organization that massacred, murdered, raped, and also kidnapped hundreds of citizens is planning to do it again, and you're threatening what will happen if they actually do it?"
"Israel's security doctrine must change from the ground up. Containment and reactivity must be thrown in the trash, and in their place must come initiative and decisiveness," he concluded.
