Katz: Gaza City to be 'evacuated' if Hamas kidnaps Israeli soldier or civilian

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning to Hamas on Tuesday, stating that if an Israeli soldier or civilian is abducted, Gaza City will be evacuated southward and dealt with similarly to other areas of the Gaza Strip. Speaking at a Yom Kippur War memorial, Katz cited "various intentions and intelligence reports" for this warning. He emphasized that this approach, involving "evacuating the population, destroying the infrastructure, and taking the territory," is what jihadist organizations understand. Katz also noted that the IDF currently controls approximately 54% of the Gaza Strip along the "Yellow Line" and will not withdraw as long as Hamas remains and the Strip is not demilitarized. Separately, the Board of Peace called for all parties to fulfill commitments and avoid actions that could undermine the ceasefire, ahead of the UN General Assembly, reaffirming goals for Gaza's demilitarization, Israeli withdrawal, a Palestinian administration, and reconstruction.