🗳️ Election security and political accountability: Speaking at Tel Nof Air Force base, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel had indications that its enemies would try to attack ahead of the elections and warned that Israel could reach them anywhere, at any time. Eisenkot’s Yashar! party demanded an immediate briefing for opposition leader Yair Lapid to establish whether the warning reflected a genuine threat or a political maneuver intended to disrupt the campaign. It said security must not be mixed with election campaigning, even in appearance.
Lapid requested an urgent briefing and subsequently a four-way meeting with Netanyahu, Shin Bet chief Zini and Election Committee chairman Justice Solberg. The Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu regularly briefed Lapid, most recently on September 14, and had instructed his military secretary to provide an update that day. Netanyahu and Lapid met at 11:30 PM.
After the briefing, Lapid said security threats required professional, responsible handling, while asserting: “Israel’s security and IDF bases are not props for campaign videos.” He said the IDF, Shin Bet and police were prepared for the elections and there was no reason to cause public panic. Citing 10 red flags raised by the IDF chief of staff over troop shortages and military burnout, he urged Netanyahu to enlist the 15,000 Haredi men he said the IDF lacked.
In a separate statement about Eisenkot’s protection, Yashar! said the Shin Bet had informed the party that it would not provide him with security, contrary to reports.
🎯 Operations in Gaza and threats against Hamas leaders abroad: Netanyahu said more than 100 terrorists had been eliminated in Gaza in recent weeks. He cited the overnight elimination of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade commander and, two days before his remarks, the elimination of the terrorist who kidnapped Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or. He also said Israel had brought both hostages home.
Netanyahu said Israel was also operating in Lebanon, referred to the operation at Ali Taher Ridge and pledged to resist pressure to withdraw and relinquish military gains.
Defense Minister Israel Katz described the brigade commander’s elimination as part of continuing operations against Hamas leaders in Gaza. He threatened to eliminate everyone who took part in the October 7, 2023, attack and warned that Hamas leaders abroad were also targets. Referring to Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar the previous year, Katz attributed their escape to a malfunction and threatened another attempt, saying those central to the massacre must not be allowed to die peacefully.
📍 Nahal Oz alert: Sirens in the Nahal Oz area were subsequently determined to have resulted from a false identification.
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