Katz: Hamas ‘plotting attacks on soldiers and communities even during ceasefire’

In his speech to regional council heads, Defense Minister Israel Katz says that “even during the ceasefire, we’ve received intelligence that Hamas is plotting attacks on soldiers and communities. That’s Hamas.”

Hamas, in response, rejects the allegation, saying it is “untrue” and was made “to evade the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.”

It adds that Israel’s statement that the Philadelphi Corridor will not be evacuated “is a clear violation of the agreement.”

Katz also says that West Bank settlements are “the protective wall of most of the population in the State of Israel; we need to ensure that we also protect the protector.”

He adds, “For me, Judea and Samaria and the seamline settlements are the same — because we discovered that Hamas planned to attack before October 7, both in the Samaria settlements and in the seamline area, and I am talking about documents that were seized on this matter. We consider this a serious threat.”