'Completely baseless': IDF denies report of kidnapping attempts against soldiers near Yellow Line

The IDF has denied a report by JNS claiming three kidnapping attempts against Israeli soldiers near the Gaza Strip's "Yellow Line." The military stated that the majority of the report's details were "completely baseless," refuting claims of kidnapping attempts, a retreat by forces, and failed counterattacks. The IDF clarified that it had transparently reported incidents involving damaged engineering vehicles and gunfire in early September, for which retaliatory strikes were conducted. "Any other claim is completely baseless," the military concluded. This denial followed Defense Minister Israel Katz's threat to evacuate Gaza if Hamas takes any Israeli hostages, a threat criticized by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter as "empty threats."