Will Israel go beyond displaying seized Hamas weapons to mark one year of Oct 7?

As Israel marks the one year of the October 7th Hamas attack, questions are swirling about whether the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have a significant military response planned.

The tragic events of October 7, 2023, when the Hamas attack killed hundreds of civilians and soldiers in Israel, continue to cast a long shadow over the region.

Speculation has grown in recent days about a possible major operation to coincide with this anniversary.

The IDF has already announced a public exhibition displaying thousands of items seized from Hamas operatives over the past year. These include weapons, vehicles, and equipment used in the October 7 attack and throughout the subsequent fighting in Gaza. However, military analysts and observers are closely watching for signs that Israel might go beyond this symbolic display of military prowess.

The IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate, which is responsible for organising the exhibition at Camp Yadin (“Tzrifin”), has recovered approximately 70,000 enemy assets, including 1,250 anti-tank missiles, 4,500 explosives, and various high-tech weapons. While this exhibition underscores the scope of Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities, it has also raised the possibility that the IDF is preparing for a more forceful demonstration of power.

Over the past weeks, Israeli officials have remained tight-lipped about any impending military action, but there has been heightened activity in Gaza and Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been strongly targeted and neutralised, with continued airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds. Some security experts believe that Israel may choose to launch a large-scale operation against Iran, retaliating for the recent missile attacks. Israel can also intensify its operations against Hezbollah and Hamas to give a message: that the memory of the October 7 attack will not fade without consequences.

As diplomats, international representatives, and the press visit the IDF’s exhibition of seized assets, attention is increasingly turning to whether Israel’s military display is a prelude to something larger.

While the IDF remains silent on the specifics, the question lingers: Is Israel planning a major operation to mark the anniversary of one of the darkest days in its history?

Tune In