Reports: Israel mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists for Gaza
The Israeli armed forces are sending call-up notices to tens of thousands of reservists ahead of a decision on whether to expand its attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.
A major offensive could begin in the coming days, ynet Israeli news site reported.
The Israeli security cabinet is set to discuss an expansion of the Gaza war on Sunday. According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already agreed in principle to such plans.
The current Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, when some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted to the coastal strip.
According to Israel, of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 are no longer alive.
Israel is looking to increase its attacks to pressure Palestinian extremist group Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.
After a ceasefire lasting almost two months, the Israeli military resumed its attacks in the Gaza Strip on March 18.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the planned mobilization is massive, but still significantly smaller than immediately after the October 2023 attack by Hamas.
Some reservists are to replace regular troops currently deployed on the northern border or in the West Bank so that they can in turn be sent to the Gaza Strip, ynet said.
An expansion of the attacks is likely to further exacerbate the desperate situation in the Gaza Strip, with conditions described as catastrophic by aid organizations. Israel has prevented aid supplies from entering the sealed-off area, home to around 2 million Palestinians, for two months.
