Tens of thousands of reservists to be summoned under emergency orders as army finalizes plan to occupy Gaza City, says Channel 12
Israeli reserve soldiers have begun receiving call-up notices for a planned occupation of Gaza City, even as Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, local media reported Tuesday.
Channel 12 said the Israeli army has already issued emergency draft orders, known as “Order 8,” to reservists in preparation for an operation to occupy Gaza City.
The report said tens of thousands of reservists are expected to be summoned in the coming days. Army chief Eyal Zamir also extended the service of reservists currently deployed.
The channel added that “this new military step comes in preparation for the possible occupation of Gaza City,” noting that “the Israeli army is currently making all final preparations to implement the plan to occupy Gaza.”
The channel noted on its website that “negotiations regarding a prisoner exchange with Hamas could take place under fire, and the army will not stop until an agreement is reached and signed.”
Earlier Tuesday, Zamir outlined stages of the invasion plan, including reinforcing Israeli forces in northern Gaza.
On Aug. 8, Israel’s Cabinet approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gradually reoccupy the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City.
The plan envisions the displacement of roughly 1 million Palestinians from Gaza City to the south, followed by encirclement of the city and incursions into residential neighborhoods.
As part of this, the army launched a major assault on Aug. 11 in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, witnesses told Anadolu. The assault included the destruction of homes with booby-trapped robots, artillery fire, random gunfire and forced displacement.
Israel’s preparations continue despite indirect ceasefire talks with the Palestinian group Hamas, which has agreed to a 60-day suspension of military operations under the proposal presented by Egypt and Qatar.
Israel has killed nearly 62,100 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
