Israeli security chief warns of Oct 7-like invasion of tourism hotspot

The head of the Shin Bet has warned top brass that the city of Eilat could be the target of the “next October 7,” with possible invasion attempts from Jordan or Egypt.

By World Israel News Staff

Shin Bet chief David Zini has instructed senior officials in the domestic security agency to make preparations for a possible large-scale attack on Eilat a top priority, warning in closed discussions that “the next October 7 will be in Eilat,” according to a report published on Monday.

The warning, first reported by Haaretz, centers on concern that Israel’s southernmost city could be targeted through a ground infiltration from nearby borders or by sea.

Eilat sits at Israel’s southern tip, along the Red Sea and near the borders with Jordan and Egypt, far from the country’s center and main military hubs.

According to the reports, Zini views the city’s isolation as a significant vulnerability and has directed Shin Bet intelligence units to prepare for scenarios involving a coordinated assault. The possible routes discussed reportedly include the Jordanian border and maritime approaches through the Gulf of Eilat.

The Shin Bet said it does not comment on internal discussions.

In a separate statement cited by Israeli outlets, the agency said there was “no concrete information or warning” behind a recent review of threats to Eilat, describing the process as part of broader operational planning.

The reports have triggered debate inside the Israeli security establishment, with some officials questioning the weight Zini has assigned to the scenario and whether there is specific intelligence pointing to a planned attack.

One security source quoted in Israeli media said, “no one in the security establishment knows what intelligence he is relying on.”

The warning comes amid heightened sensitivity over Israel’s borders and ports following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack from Gaza, in which gunmen overran border communities and military posts.

Since then, Israeli security officials and local leaders have repeatedly warned that infiltration routes used for criminal smuggling could also be exploited by armed groups.

Several weeks ago, Israeli naval forces thwarted a suspected maritime infiltration attempt in the Gulf of Eilat.

According to the IDF, sailors from the Navy’s 916th Squadron spotted a suspect on a jet ski crossing into Israeli waters from Jordan on May 29.

The military said forces fired warning shots and then fired at the vessel after the suspect did not stop, causing the suspect to turn back toward Jordan.

Israeli media reported that the Navy raised alert levels in the area following the incident. i24NEWS reported that the vessel may have been remotely controlled as a possible test of Israeli defenses, though the IDF has not publicly confirmed that assessment.

On Tuesday, the IDF held a military exercise in the Gulf of Eilat area, involving increased movement of security forces, vehicles and naval vessels. The military said there was no concern of a live security incident and that residents would be updated by security forces in the event of a real emergency.

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri said there was no immediate or concrete threat to the city, but said local authorities and security forces were prepared.

“Since the beginning of the war, I have been holding regular discussions with all security bodies,” Lankri said, according to Israeli reports. He said Eilat was “well protected, prepared and alert,” with reinforced security measures along the eastern border.

Lankri also urged the government to continue investing in the city’s security, emergency infrastructure, medical services and public services, saying the lessons of October 7 require preparation before a crisis rather than afterward. He noted that Eilat was operating normally as the summer tourist season began and was preparing to receive tens of thousands of visitors.

Hanan Ginat, head of the Hevel Eilot Regional Council, said the concerns attributed to Zini matched warnings local officials have been raising since the October 7 attack. Ginat said the eastern border area had become one of Israel’s most sensitive regions and warned that smuggling routes used for weapons, drugs and illegal crossings could become routes for terrorist infiltrations.

“Our concern is that the criminal route will become a route through which terrorist cells will attempt to infiltrate Israel and harm our communities,” Ginat said.