Move suggests IDF sees war over, but Israel has not said so

After two years of war, defense minister declares end to emergency situation in south

Home Front Command set Tuesday to lift remaining restrictions on large gatherings near Gaza border as ‘special situation’ canceled

By Emanuel Fabian

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27 October 2025, 4:42 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Israeli troops move along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip on October 21, 2025. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)

For the first time since the October 7, 2023, onslaught, Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday ruled that the emergency situation declared in southern Israel will be lifted.

The “special situation” allowed the military’s Home Front Command to restrict gatherings and close off areas. It was declared on the morning of October 7 in the entire country, but has since remained in place only in the south.

The order will expire on Tuesday, and for the first time in over two years, there will be no active “special situation” in the country.

The move adds a further indication that the Israel Defense Forces considers the war in the Gaza Strip to be over, as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared. However, Israel has not officially announced that the war with Hamas has ended.

“I have decided to adopt the IDF’s recommendation and to remove, for the first time since October 7, the special situation in the home front,” Katz said in a statement.

He said that “the decision reflects the new security reality in the south of the country that was achieved thanks to the determined and powerful actions over the past two years of our heroic troops against the Hamas terror organization.”

War erupted when Hamas-led terrorists rampaged through southern communities on October 7, killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages, while carrying out brutal atrocities.

Defense Minister Israel Katz attends the state ceremony marking 52 years since the Yom Kippur War, held at the military cemetery at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, on October 5, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/FLASH90)

Following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, the Home Front Command lifted nearly all restrictions on gatherings, workplaces, and schools across the country.

However, in some communities on the Gaza border, gatherings were still limited to 2,000 people, a restriction that had been in place before the June war.

With the “special situation” ending on Tuesday, the Home Front Command is likely to also lift that last remaining restriction on large gatherings near the Gaza border.

The end of the emergency situation comes after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10, pausing the Gaza war.