The anniversary follows a tragic history of violence, with significant casualties and ongoing military operations in Gaza. Upcoming elections are expected to focus heavily on security issues related to the conflict
Photo : AP
Israel has warned of a heightened risk of terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews as the country marks the third anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attack. The National Security Council (NSC) issued the warning on Wednesday, as Israeli security chiefs met to discuss threats ahead of the country’s 27 October Knesset election.
Large anti-Israel demonstrations were held in major cities around the world to mark the first two anniversaries of the attack, with further protests planned this week.
“Terrorist organizations, led by Iran and its proxies, Hamas, and global jihadist elements, view this date as a significant milestone,” the NSC said in a travel warning published by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.
It urged Israelis to avoid Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula, on Wednesday.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said on Tuesday that he had put the military on high alert ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack.
The office of Katz said the move came “in light of intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to attempt to carry out attacks and terror operations against our forces in Gaza on that day”. “If, heaven forbid, our forces are harmed, the ones who will pay the heavy price will be Hamas and the population of Gaza — beyond all proportion,” the statement said.
October 7 Attack
Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack was the deadliest day in Israel’s history, killing 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also took 251 hostages to Gaza, 44 of whom were already dead.
Israel responded by launching a military offensive in Gaza that has left much of the territory in ruins.
More than 74,200 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which is under Hamas authority. The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures reliable.
Since a ceasefire was declared last October, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,440 people in Gaza, according to the ministry.
