Israeli military will call up 60,000 reservists as it plans new phase of war in Gaza

Independent

18 hours ago

The Israeli military is calling up to 60,000 reservists for a new offensive in Gaza City and other heavily populated areas of the war-torn strip.
A siege on Gaza City is the first part of plans approved by Israel's security cabinet to take full military control of Gaza and force the entire 2.3 million population south.
An official said tens of thousands of reservists will be called up in the next month, doubling the currently number to 120,000. It remains unclear when the operation will begin.
Around 75 percent Gaza is already largely destroyed and controlled by Israel. A wider offensive would force more people to flee and further disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid as experts say the territory is at imminent risk of famine.
Israel's plans have also sparked internal controversy, with families of the remaining hostages fearing another military escalation could doom their loved ones, while former senior security officials say there is little to be gained militarily.
Last week Netanyahu said that Israel will first allow civilians to leave the battle zones before forces move in on Gaza City, which he described as one of Hamas ' last two remaining strongholds.
Earlier this week Hamas accepted a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators, which would include a 60 day truce and the release of half of the remaining hostages. A total of 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with only 20 thought to still be alive, out of the 250 taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023..
A source close to the talks told Reuters that, unlike previous rounds, Hamas accepted the proposal with no further demands. Neither Israel nor the United States have yet responded to the offer.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned offensive had triggered global outrage, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will 'only bring more bloodshed' just hours after the initial announcement,
UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, said it will lead to 'more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes'.
Civilians in Gaza described how they need 'a miracle to save us', and the families of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas called it 'a colossal catastrophe for both the hostages and our soldiers'.
Mr Netanyahu's office said its five main goals are: Israel's security control of the entire Strip, disarming Hamas, returning the hostages, demilitarisation of Gaza, and 'the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority'.
In practice, sources briefed on the discussion said the Israeli military plan to begin 'gradually' at first – ordering the population of Gaza City to move and corral south of the tiny 25-mile enclave.
The focus of the initial military offensive will be carried out by the symbolic date of 7 October 2025, after which a siege will be imposed on Gaza City and army forces 'will manoeuvre in it,' according to Kan, Israel's public broadcaster.
Meanwhile, the people of Gaza are grappling with severe food shortages due to an Israeli blockade. More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023, according to the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel's military struck Gaza City's eastern suburbs overnight in a bombardment which Gaza health authorities said killed at least 19 people.
'This time if there is no deal, I am afraid we will all die,' father of four Samir Abu Basel said. 'To die here or die wherever they would push us to, all the same. We have lost faith in this world, in our leaders too.'