Israel Approves Gaza City Assault, Calls Up 60,000 Reservists

Israel Approves Gaza City Assault, Calls Up 60,000 Reservists
……………….

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has approved a plan to capture Gaza City and authorized the mobilization of approximately 60,000 reservists, France 24 reported Wednesday. The announcement increases pressure on Hamas as international mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, await an official Israeli response to their latest ceasefire proposal.

The proposal, which Hamas has accepted in principle, calls for a 60-day initial truce, a phased release of hostages, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners, and arrangements for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Israel has stressed that any agreement must include the release of all hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly but has reiterated that Israel will only accept an agreement meeting its conditions for ending the war. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi indicated the group is open to negotiations but questioned whether Israel would follow through.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes killed 48 people across the territory on Tuesday, with continuing shelling in neighborhoods including Zeitoun and Sabra. Humanitarian access remains limited, as Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 62,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians.