Israel’s military will mobilize thousands of reservists in the coming days, it said Saturday, in what appears to be an expansion of its offensive in Gaza as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire languish.
The call-up follows reports that the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Friday presented a plan to intensify pressure on Palestinian militant group Hamas to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, reported that Zamir’s plan included evacuating Palestinian civilians from northern and central Gaza ahead of expanded operations in those areas, mirroring tactics used earlier this year in southern Gaza’s Rafah.
Citing unnamed officials, Kan 11 said Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet was expected to approve the plan Sunday.
The news has prompted concern among families of the 59 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. Most of the hostages were taken during Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked 18 months of Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 50,000 people in Gaza.
In what it described as “an urgent and heartfelt” appeal, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters warned Saturday that “any escalation in the fighting will put the hostages — both the living and the deceased — in immediate danger.”
Credit: cnn.com
The post Israel calls up thousands of reservists, plans to expand Gaza offensive appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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