Israel's Defence Minister Threatens to Evacuate Gaza City Residents if Any Israeli Is Abducted

On September 22, 2026, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz, speaking at a memorial for the 1973 Yom Kippur War, threatened to evacuate all of Gaza City's residents and destroy infrastructure if any Israeli is abducted. He warned Hamas and its supporters, including Iran and Turkey's president, that such actions would follow any kidnapping. This comes amid the ongoing conflict that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and took hostages. Israel's military offensive has killed over 73,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly the entire population. Katz also threatened to strike Iran again, referencing a previous joint US-Israel attack that killed Iran's supreme leader.