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Israel Minister of Defence Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to warn Hamas leaders — via the U.S. oversight mechanism — that any Hamas fighters remaining beyond the yellow line in territory under Israeli control must evacuate immediately.
Yellow line is the boundary demarcating ceasefire zones between Hamas- and IDF-controlled areas of Gaza.
Israel Orders Hamas Forces to Evacuate Areas Beyond Yellow Line or Face Strikes
In a statement issued on Monday October 20 Katz announced that those who remain would be considered legitimate targets, even during the ceasefire.
“I have instructed the IDF to convey a clear message to the Hamas leaders in Gaza through the American oversight mechanism: every Hamas terrorist found beyond the yellow line in the territory under Israel’s control must evacuate immediately.
“Anyone who remains in the area will be a target for attack without any further warning, and Hamas leaders will bear responsibility for any incident.”
He noted that the directive is intended to allow IDF forces to operate freely and immediately against any threat.
“The protection of IDF soldiers is at the top of our priorities, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure this,” Katz added.
Also Read: Israel Immediately Freezes Gaza Peace Plan Over Missing Captive Bodies
Israel Hamas Exchange Fire as Tension Rise
This comes after a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faced renewed strain on Monday, October 20, after a cell of Hamas terrorists attempted to infiltrate Israeli-controlled territory in northern Gaza.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a group of armed terrorists was spotted crossing the Yellow Line. The incident occurred in the volatile Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.
“The forces fired toward the terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line in order to remove the threat to the troops,” the IDF said in a statement.
A second infiltration attempt followed shortly thereafter in the same area. Israeli troops again engaged the attackers, eliminating what the army described as “an immediate threat.”
Palestinian Authority outlet WAFA and Qatari state media Al Jazeera both reported that two Hamas operatives were killed in the clashes.
The infiltration attempts come just one day after Hamas launched a missile attack on an Israeli armored personnel carrier, killing two IDF soldiers and wounding three others.
Israel responded with limited airstrikes on Hamas targets across Gaza, accusing the terror group of “a blatant violation” of the ceasefire.
Also Read: Ceasefire in Jeopardy as Israeli Airstrike Kills Senior Hamas Commander
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for meetings with Israeli leaders in an effort to reinforce American support for the continuation of the ceasefire.
The truce, brokered on October 8, came two years after the devastating 2023–2025 Gaza war, which began with Hamas’ October 7 attacks on southern Israel—the deadliest single day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
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