The Israel Defense Forces raised their alert level near the Gaza border on Sunday evening following a situational assessment held by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff LTG Herzi Halevi.
Nevertheless, during the situational assessment it was also decided that as of Sunday 8 pm, the area of the Confrontation Line (in northern Israel) will change from Partial Activity to Full Activity, the IDF said. The status is in effect for the entire week, until Sunday, March 2 at 8 pm.
Residents in evacuated northern Israeli communities are expected to return to their homes on March 2.
Earlier in the evening, a terrorist was eliminated on the coastal road in Gaza after approaching Israeli forces from the northern sector.
An infiltration warning was also activated in Kibbutz Nachal Oz and Kibbutz Be’eri also during the early evening hours after IDF soldiers spotted suspicious figures near the border.
The “kitot konenut” (community security response squads) are at full readiness, according to local sources.
Speaking at an IDF cadet officers’ graduation ceremony in Be’er Sheva earlier in the day, Katz warned that Israel is ready to resume fighting if necessary.
“If we are forced to return to fighting, the enemy will face the IDF with power it has never known before. We are preparing for this, and we are ready for this,” he declared.
