Israeli Defense Minister threatens mass evacuation of Gaza City

On September 22, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a severe warning to Hamas, Iran, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a state memorial ceremony for the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Katz announced that if a single Israeli soldier or citizen is kidnapped, Israel will force the evacuation of the entire population of Gaza City, consisting of approximately one million residents, toward the south.

Katz cited intelligence reports suggesting that Hamas is planning new abductions, which prompted this ultimatum. He stated that the city would face the same treatment as Rafah and Beit Hanoun, involving the destruction of infrastructure and residential buildings. The minister asserted that this strategy—population displacement, infrastructure destruction, and territorial control—is the only language understood by militant groups in Gaza and Lebanon. He also reiterated that Israel maintains its current security positions.

The warnings come 53 years after the start of the Yom Kippur War, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog also in attendance. The government maintains that these measures are necessary to ensure the return of hostages and to combat terrorism.