Israeli troops begin calling for reserve personnel to plan to expand to the Gaza offensive
The Israeli military has begun calling on thousands of reserve personnel to “strengthen and expand” their operations in Gaza.
The IDF said it is “increasing pressure” to return hostages held in Gaza and defeat Hamas militants.
Critics say the recent military offensive failed to guarantee the release of prisoners after the ceasefire and questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s target in the conflict.
Under the plan, the military said it would operate in the new area and “destroy all infrastructure” above and below the ground.
Israel’s security cabinet will approve military expansion when it meets Sunday.
International negotiations failed to reach a new agreement for a ceasefire, and Hamas held the release of the remaining 59 hostages – 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
No Israeli hostages have been released since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a ceasefire with Hamas.
Since then, Israel has occupied a large swathe of Gaza and has been displaced again.
Israel said its aim is to put pressure on Hamas, whose strategies include a blockade of humanitarian aid, have been around for more than two months.
The aid agency reported a severe shortage of acute food, water and medicine, which he said was a hunger policy that could constitute a war crime, which Israel refused.
The expanded offense would put even more pressure on tired reserve personnel, who have been selected five to six times since the war began and have renewed concerns about hostage families, urging the government to reach an agreement with Hamas, saying it was the only way to save those who are still alive.
The measure will also raise new questions about Netanyahu’s real intentions in Gaza.
He was often accused by hostage families and opponents of his accusations that he denied negotiations on a deal and extended allegations of war.
Nearly 19 months after the war, he did not propose a one-day plan.
According to local media reports, the military held a planned offensive in Gaza on Friday.
Thousands of reserve personnel have signed letters in recent weeks asking Netanyahu’s government to stop fighting and focus on reaching a deal to take hostages.
On Saturday night, new protests were held across Israel, demanding an end to the conflict.
In Tel Aviv, the mother of a hostage called it an “unnecessary war”.
Two more Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, the Israeli military said on Sunday.
Missiles launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi fighters landed near the main terminal of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport earlier Sunday. Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.
Hushis later responded to Israel’s new plan to Gaza, saying they would impose “air lockdowns” on Israel by repeatedly targeting the airport.
In Gaza, Hamas – the Ministry of Health that operates said that as of 11:05 local time (BST 09:05), 40 people were killed and 125 others were injured in the first 24 hours.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, with about 1,200 people killed and another 251 were taken hostage.
According to the Hamas Ministry of Health in the region, at least 52,535 Palestinians were killed at Gaza sites during the subsequent war.
The ministry said 2,436 of them had been attacking the Gaza Strip since March 18.
