Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz posted a video on Tuesday, warning that Hamas leaders residing outside Gaza would be targeted by Israeli forces.
The warning follows a campaign that began after the October 7 attack, during which Israel intensified strikes on militant infrastructure inside Gaza.
Katz said, "None of these despicable murderers…should die peacefully in their beds," echoing the language used to describe the October 7 incursion and underscoring the severity of the threat.
The statement has raised concerns among diplomatic circles, with some governments calling for restraint and urging a measured approach.
In Rafah, a mother of two remembers the nights when gunfire pierced the sky, and the threat of a wider offensive adds to the daily terror experienced by civilians.
Israel’s next move may involve coordination with allied forces to locate and strike the leaders abroad, a step that could ripple across regional security dynamics.