The Israel Defense Forces said it is upping its readiness in all sectors ahead of the Passover holiday, which begins after sundown on Saturday and runs through the evening of April 19 in the Jewish state.
During a situational assessment, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir “emphasized the importance of maintaining readiness and alertness so Israelis can celebrate it anywhere in the country,” the IDF stated on Thursday.
“It was decided to increase the alert level and increase the presence of combat forces in the sectors during the Passover holiday,” the military stated, adding that Zamir also “emphasized the importance of vigilance and preparedness for the defense of IDF bases throughout the holiday.”
Last month, Zamir canceled the policy of “shutdowns” during holidays, in which large numbers of active-duty IDF personnel are granted leave.
He said the decision applies to a lesson learned from the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas and Palestinian operatives invaded sparsely defended bases along the Gaza border and ran rampant through the southern Negev for days.
During “shutdowns,” particularly during religious holidays such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, IDF bases operate with reduced staff.
The Oct. 7 invasion took place on the holiday of Simchat Torah, which follows immediately after Sukkot. The military was largely “shut down,” and the number of soldiers on bases was low.
According to a November 2023 report, Hamas had initially planned its assault for the evening of Passover but postponed the attack plans after the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate raised the alert level.
