Israeli military says 60,000 reservists called up for next phase of Gaza war

The Israeli army said that it had called 60,000 additional reservists and extended the service of 20,000 “as part of the next phase of” Operation Gideon’s Chariot ” – the name of the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Israel is preparing to launch an extended military operation in Gaza City, perhaps in the coming days, even though the negotiators are jostling to bring Israel and Hamas to a cease-fire after 22 months of fighting.

This occurs while human rights groups warn that a humanitarian crisis could worsen in Gaza, where most residents have been moved, large districts are in ruins and communities are faced with the threat of famine.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with military regulations, said that Israeli defense forces will operate in some parts of the city of Gaza where they have not yet operated and where they believe that Hamas is still active.

The official said that Israeli troops already operated in the districts of Zeitoun and Jabaliya of Gaza City to prepare the basics of the enlarged operation, which should receive the approval of the chief of staff in the coming days.

The FDIs concern the city of Gaza as the main soldier of Hamas and the bastion of the troops and the Israeli Hamas troops will again target the vast network of underground tunnels in Hamas, added the official.

Although Israel has targeted and killed a large part of the senior management of Hamas, some parts of the militant group are actively grouping together and put attacks, in particular by launching rockets towards Israel, said the official.

We do not know when the operation will start, but it could be a matter of days. The official said the operation should last between four and six months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always declared that the objective of the war was to guarantee the release of the remaining hostages and to ensure that Hamas and other activists could never threaten Israel again.

The planned offensive, announced for the first time earlier this month, increased the international condemnation of Israel and fueled the fears of leading to another mass movement of the Palestinians.

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AP journalists have seen small groups head south of the city this week, but the number of people will flee voluntarily is uncertain. Some said they were waiting to see how the events take place before moving around again, and many are nowhere to shelter the air strikes.

The Israeli appeal occurs a growing campaign of exhausted reservists accuses the government of perpetuating war for political reasons and of not bringing the remaining hostages.

The families of the hostages and former military and intelligence leaders also expressed their opposition to the enlarged operation of Gaza City. Most hostage families want an immediate cease-fire and fear that an extended aggression could jeopardize the return of the 50 hostages still in Gaza. Israel believes that 20 are still alive.

The former leaders are skeptical that the objective of completely destroying Hamas is achievable. The former head of Shin Bet, the internal security agency of Israel, Yoram Cohen, described it as “fantasy”, saying that “if someone imagines that we can reach all the terrorists and each pit and each weapon, and in parallel, bring our hostages home – I think it is impossible.”

War began when Hamas led a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians and removing 251. Most of the hostages were released in ceasements or other transactions. Hamas says it will only release the rest in the exchange of a sustainable ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.

The mediators and Hamas both said this week that Hamas leaders had agreed to stop conditions, although similar announcements were made in the past that have not led to ceases.

An Israeli official who spoke under the guise of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media, said that Israel was in constant contact with the mediators in order to guarantee the release of the hostages.

Netanyahu said on several occasions that he would oppose an agreement that does not include the “complete defeat of Hamas”.

More than 62,000 people were killed in the 22 -month offensive in Israel, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced on Monday. The ministry is part of the government managed by Hamas and with health professionals. The ministry does not say how many deaths were civilians or combatants, but says that women and children compensate about half of them.