Israel Calls Up 60,000 Reservists for Massive Gaza Offensive/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel is set to mobilize 60,000 reservists and extend 20,000 existing deployments for an expanded military campaign in Gaza City. The operation targets Hamas strongholds amid global concern over humanitarian fallout. Critics question the strategy as hostage families and reservists push for a ceasefire.
Gaza Offensive Plans: Quick Looks
- Mass Call-Up Ordered: Israel to summon 60,000 reservists, extending 20,000 others.
- New Gaza Operation Imminent: Assault will focus on Hamas activity in Gaza City.
- Hostage Families Oppose Offensive: Concern rising that 50 remaining hostages may be endangered.
- Humanitarian Crisis Deepens: Over 62,000 killed in Gaza, with famine worsening.
- Protests in Israel: Exhausted reservists and veterans push for ceasefire.
- Netanyahu Holds Firm: PM insists on Hamas’ total defeat before any truce.
- Far-Right Influence Grows: Controversial settlement and prison tactics spark backlash.
- Ceasefire Proposal in Limbo: Hamas agrees to terms; Israel yet to respond.
Deep Look: Israel Mobilizes 60,000 Reservists for Expanded Gaza City Operation
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel is preparing to escalate its military campaign in Gaza City, with Defense Minister Israel Katz approving a mass mobilization of 60,000 reservists and an extension for 20,000 more already on duty. The military says the expanded offensive, pending final approval, will target Hamas strongholds in the densely populated urban center, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate.
This decision marks one of the largest military mobilizations since the war began 22 months ago, carrying significant political, economic, and emotional weight in a country of less than 10 million people. The move coincides with rising domestic and international pressure for a ceasefire, with protests erupting across Israel and global concern growing over the humanitarian toll in Gaza.
Troops Headed Into Dense Urban Battle
Israeli officials said new ground operations will push deeper into Gaza City — specifically in Zeitoun and Jabaliya — areas previously bypassed or only partially cleared. These neighborhoods are believed to house remaining Hamas fighters and parts of the group’s underground tunnel network. The military says Hamas continues to regroup and launch rockets from Gaza, despite prior Israeli gains.
The targeted areas are among the last strongholds of Hamas and serve as shelter zones for hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians, creating fears of intensified urban warfare. Israeli forces are already laying groundwork in these districts, signaling that the campaign could begin within days.
Strategic Objectives Amid Civilian Risk
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the government’s goals: the return of the remaining 50 hostages, believed to include 20 still alive, and the full dismantling of Hamas. However, critics argue the escalation endangers the hostages and exacerbates civilian suffering.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is already at a breaking point. Over 62,000 people have died in the nearly two-year conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Among them, more than half are reported to be women and children. Malnutrition has also claimed over 250 lives since June, including more than 100 children.
Exhaustion and Dissent Among Israeli Reservists
Within Israel, fatigue is mounting. Reservists — some serving for hundreds of consecutive days — are questioning the war’s purpose. Many accuse the government of dragging out the conflict for political gain rather than prioritizing the hostages’ return. Veteran groups and families of the hostages have urged the government to halt operations and pursue diplomatic solutions.
Retired air force pilot Guy Poran, who leads a veteran-led ceasefire movement, emphasized the emotional and economic toll on reservists. “Even those who support the war in theory don’t want to serve another tour,” he said.
Ceasefire Talks in Limbo
Despite mounting calls for a ceasefire, negotiations remain stalled. Hamas has reportedly accepted a new truce proposal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, but Israel has yet to issue a formal response.
“The ball is now in Israel’s court,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdelattay.
An Israeli official confirmed that discussions are ongoing through mediators, yet Netanyahu has made it clear that any deal excluding the total defeat of Hamas is off the table.
Far-Right Influence and Controversies
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further as Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared provocative prison footage showing Palestinian detainees being shown images of Gaza’s devastation. In the video, Ben-Gvir underscores Israel’s uncompromising stance, declaring, “Israel will wipe them out.”
This follows earlier controversial appearances, including a face-off with a Palestinian leader inside an Israeli prison and a visit to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site — both moves drawing regional condemnation.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition scored a significant policy win by green-lighting a contentious settlement in the E1 zone of the occupied West Bank. Critics warn the project could sever Palestinian territories and end any viable two-state solution.
Targeted Killings and Symbolic Closures
In a separate development, Israeli forces announced they had killed the Hamas militant believed responsible for kidnapping Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two children were also taken hostage on October 7, 2023. The Bibas case garnered international attention, particularly after video footage showed the abduction. His wife and children were killed during the war; Bibas was later released.
In a public statement, Bibas said the killing of his alleged abductor offered “a small part of my closure,” but added that the real closure would come when all hostages are safely returned.
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