RismadarVoice Reporters
October 6, 2026
Israel has placed its military on heightened alert ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, citing intelligence indicating possible attacks against Israeli forces in Gaza.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that the military had been instructed to increase its readiness and prepare for different scenarios ahead of Wednesday’s anniversary.
Katz said Israeli intelligence indicated that Hamas could attempt attacks against troops operating in Gaza on October 7.
He directed the military to respond to intelligence or warnings of potential threats and warned that any attack causing casualties among Israeli forces would trigger a severe response.
The heightened security comes three years after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed, and 251 people were taken hostage.
Israel subsequently launched its military offensive in Gaza, beginning a conflict that has caused extensive destruction and tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths.
A ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 secured the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and increased humanitarian access, but major elements of the broader peace plan remain unresolved.
Israeli forces continue to operate in substantial parts of Gaza, while disputes persist over Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals and reconstruction of the territory.
More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israeli security authorities have also intensified efforts to identify and target individuals they say participated in the October 7 attack.
Katz said on Monday that Israeli authorities estimate about 6,000 fighters crossed into Israel during the 2023 assault and that around 4,000 of them have since been killed. The figures are Israeli military assessments.
Security measures have been strengthened as Israel prepares to mark Wednesday’s anniversary, with the military remaining on alert for possible attacks from Gaza.
