Jerusalem Post/Israel News"Stop making threats if you don't intend to follow through...it certainly isn't security, and it certainly isn't victory," Winter said. Follow us on GoogleAmcha Yisrael party chairman Ofer Winter speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, September 2, 2026. (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFSEPTEMBER 23, 2026 03:43

People of Israel chairman and founder Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter called on Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday to stop making empty threats in response to Katz's statement that the remains of Gaza City would be destroyed and that around one million Gazans would be forced to evacuate if Hamas takes a single Israeli hostage.

Katz said he was responding to the increasing threat of potential aggressive actions by Turkey, Iran, and its terror proxies, including Hamas.

Winter claimed that Katz's threat was taking the place of any real action.

Hamas will not take threats seriously, Winter says"Instead of eliminating the threat, officials go on the air and threaten that if anyone is abducted, all of Gaza will be evacuated," Winter said, adding that Hamas would not take the threat seriously as "251 people were abducted and that didn't happen."People of Israel Party chair Ofer Winter during a party rally in Rishon Lezion, September 15, 2026. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

“Three years after October 7, we’re still talking about vigilance at the border, still afraid of abductions, and still threatening to respond to every Hamas action," Winter said. 

"Stop making threats if you don't intend to follow through...it certainly isn't security, and it certainly isn't victory," Winter said.

Winter called for a shift from "a policy of reacting and containing to one of taking the initiative and securing a decisive outcome."

"People of Israel will be strong in the coming elections to ensure that what happened before does not happen again,” he concluded.

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