❗️Israel places army on high alert ahead of 7 October

Israel’s war minister said on Tuesday that he had ordered the army to remain on high alert ahead of 7 October, warning that Palestinians in Gaza would face a “heavy price” if Israeli forces came under attack.

War Minister Israel Katz’s office said the order was issued “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.