Katz puts Gaza forces on alert ahead of October 7

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to place forces in Gaza on heightened alert ahead of October 7, citing intelligence about possible Hamas attacks on Israeli troops on the anniversary of the 2023 attack, his office said Tuesday. The sources report the warning and order, but do not independently substantiate the intelligence or establish that an attack was planned. Katz directed the military to prepare for possible scenarios and respond to emerging threats, according to his office. It warned that Hamas and Gaza’s population would pay a heavy price if Israeli forces were harmed. The statement did not detail the intelligence behind the alert. The reports describe the order as a precaution ahead of the third anniversary, which falls Wednesday. They do not establish whether an attack or attempted attack occurred on the anniversary. The alert concerns forces operating in Gaza; the available accounts do not report a change to the military’s deployment or give details about the scale or duration of the heightened readiness.