Israel has kicked off what it calls the “initial stages of the attack on Gaza City,” gearing up to call in as many as 60,000 reservists to support its military campaign. This update comes from Eddie Defrin, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), along with an Israeli military source.
In an official statement, Defrin confirmed, “We’ve started our early operations and are now on the outskirts of Gaza City.” The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has authorized a military initiative d “Gideon’s Chariots II” specifically aimed at the invasion of the city.
Reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicate that recent Israeli bombardments have claimed the lives of at least 58 Palestinians within just 24 hours. This comes after Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal earlier this week, negotiated with representatives from Qatar and Egypt. The contents of this proposal are said to align with a framework initially suggested by the United States back in June.
So far, Israel has remained silent regarding Hamas’ acceptance of the ceasefire.
Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary at the White House, suggested that Hamas’ move towards a ceasefire can be partially attributed to a recent post from former President Donald Trump. In his post, Trump asserted that hostages would only be freed when Hamas is “confronted and destroyed.” Leavitt noted the timing of Hamas’ acceptance, stating, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they agreed to the proposal just after the president made his strong statement online.”
There hasn’t been any confirmation from ABC News regarding the exact details of the ceasefire proposal and Hamas’ agreement.
Earlier this month, PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet facilitated the development of plans for the Israeli military to occupy Gaza City due to the intensification of military operations, coinciding with various international outcries about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed grave concerns, calling for an “immediate halt” to Israel’s offensive against Gaza City. He highlighted the potential for more widespread displacement and catastrophic consequences, stating, “This intensification will only lead to more deaths and unbearable suffering.”
Last month, more than 100 organizations warned that Gaza is facing relentless food shortages, branding the situation a “mass starvation” crisis, directly linked to the ongoing blockade by Israeli forces.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, put the blame for the shortages squarely on Hamas. He remarked, “If we had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war. Over recent months, Hamas has destroyed supplies meant for the Palestinian civilians, causing significant shortages.” Hamas has firmly denied these allegations.
Recently, the IDF reported that it is reaching out to Jewish communities worldwide to address a notable shortage of soldiers. A senior IDF officer stated there’s currently a shortfall of about 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers, due in part to low recruitment within the ultra-Orthodox community.
The IDF’s strategy involves targeting major Jewish communities, especially in the U.S. and France, to invite young individuals of military age to serve in the Israeli army.
According to studies by the IDF’s Manpower Division, the draft-age population across these communities exceeds 10,000 annually. Aiming for an increase in recruitment, the IDF is focused on attracting around 600 to 700 new soldiers from abroad each year.
