August 20, 2025 – Israel has ordered the mobilisation of around 60,000 reservists in preparation for a large-scale ground offensive aimed at seizing control of Gaza City, military officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The call-up, approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, will see the reservists report for duty in September. Officials said most forces taking part in the offensive will be active-duty troops, with five divisions expected to be involved in the campaign.
Preparations Underway
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the mobilisation forms part of “the next phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” launched in May. An additional 20,000 reservists already serving will have their tours extended.
Military officials described the upcoming offensive as a “gradual” and “precise” operation. Forces are already conducting preparatory missions in Gaza City’s Zeitoun and Jabalia districts. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDF Chief of Staff, is expected to finalise the operational details in the coming days.
The Givati Brigade has also resumed operations in Jabalia and on the outskirts of Gaza City, where troops are dismantling Hamas infrastructure above and below ground, according to the IDF.
Humanitarian Concerns
The offensive is expected to trigger another mass evacuation. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City are likely to be ordered south, where Israel has begun expanding food distribution points and establishing field hospitals in the al-Mawasi area.
International organisations, however, have warned of catastrophic consequences. A joint statement from UN agencies and aid groups described the plan as “a recipe for further disaster,” citing overcrowding, collapsed healthcare systems, and critical shortages of food and water in southern Gaza.
“The intensification of military operations in Gaza City will have a horrific humanitarian impact on people already malnourished, displaced, and bereaved,” the statement read.
Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence, told AFP the situation in Zeitoun and Sabra was “very dangerous and unbearable,” with intermittent shelling continuing. Local media reported at least 21 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday, including a family of five in the Shati refugee camp.
Hostage Talks and Ceasefire Efforts
The mobilisation comes amid stalled efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Indirect negotiations collapsed last month, prompting Israel to intensify its military strategy.
Regional mediators have since proposed a 60-day truce that would see around half of the 50 remaining hostages freed. Hamas said it accepted the proposal earlier this week. Israeli officials, however, have rejected partial agreements, insisting on a comprehensive deal involving the release of all hostages. Only about 20 of them are believed to be alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel’s objectives remain unchanged: the release of all hostages and the “complete defeat” of Hamas.
War Toll
Israel’s campaign in Gaza began after the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
Since then, at least 62,122 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. More than 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, most of the population has been displaced multiple times, and international experts warn famine conditions are already unfolding in the enclave.
Defence Minister Katz vowed this week that the planned offensive would fundamentally alter Gaza: “Once the operation is completed, Gaza will no longer look as it did in the past.”60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
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