The Israeli military said Wednesday that it is calling up tens of thousands of reservists before the expanded military incursion into Gaza City, even as the country’s government is considering a proposal for a ceasefire with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“As part of the next phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’, ~60,000 reserve orders were issued this morning, and 20,000 reservists had their service extended. The IDF values its reservists and their vital role in Israel’s security,” the military wrote Wednesday morning in a post on social platform X.
The military will be conducting a “gradual, precise and targeted” operation in and around Gaza City, “which currently serves as Hamas’s main military and governing stronghold,” said an Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, who briefed the press.
The military official said soldiers will operate in the areas of Gaza City where they have not previously gone. Most of the reservists are not expected to operate in Gaza City.
“All that said, in Gaza, the main forces operating on the next stage of the operation will be our active duty forces. We will have five divisions operating in Gaza in different operations focusing on Gaza City.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greenlighted the plan to escalate the offensive in Gaza, arguing earlier this month that his country “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat” of Hamas.
Israel has faced pushback from allies in Europe over the planned offensive, while the prime minister has been under pressure from members of his coalition to keep the war going and nix the temporary ceasefire proposal.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have protested Israel’s military operation in the war-torn enclave while calling for the safe return of hostages.
“The only way to bring [hostages] back is through a deal, all at once, without games,” said former hostage Arbel Yehoud, whose boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, is still in Hamas captivity.
The operation in and around Gaza City will be “gradual, precise and planned out,” encompassing a “very large-scale humanitarian plan going by at the same time, simultaneously providing everything needed: food, shelter in areas, working on providing new field hospitals,” according to the military official.
The recent 60-day ceasefire proposal brought by Arab intermediaries was accepted by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The Israeli government is reviewing the proposal.
Israel has said about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, all of whom the government hopes to free. The Israeli government has said that about 20 hostages are still alive.
The latest proposal is similar to the one brought by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
“The ball is now in Israel’s court. We would like a positive response from them as soon as possible in order to deal with the disastrous situation in Gaza, especially the starvation and the killing of civilians,” Egypt’s foreign minister told NBC News on Tuesday.
The war started Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage. Since then, the Israeli military offensive has killed more than 62,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Netanyahu has previously said he is against any deal that would leave Hamas as the ruling faction in Gaza, although many Israelis worry the new offensive in the enclave could put the rest of the remaining hostages in danger.
“Ahead of approval of the plans for the operation in Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the timetables — for seizing control of the last terrorist strongholds and the defeat of Hamas — be shortened,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday.
“The Prime Minister expresses his great appreciation for the reservist fighters who have been mobilized and their families, and all IDF soldiers,” his office added. “Together we will win.”
