Israeli Defense Minister approved a plan to take control of Gaza City and ordered the mobilization of 60,000 reservists to participate in the operation, named “Gideon’s Chariots (2),” the ministry announced on Wednesday.
اضافة اعلان
According to the ministry, Defense Minister Israel Katz “approved the Israeli army’s attack plan on Gaza City” and “authorized the issuance of call-up orders for the necessary reservists to carry out the mission,” estimated at around 60,000 soldiers.
A senior military official expected the attack plan on Gaza City to be completed in the coming days.
Israeli authorities had earlier declared their intention to launch a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City.
Capturing the city, home to nearly one million Palestinians, would further complicate efforts to reach a ceasefire to end the war that has been ongoing for nearly two years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described his new plan to expand military operations and take control of Gaza City as “the best way to end the war,” defying mounting calls for a ceasefire.
At a press conference in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu defended his plan, saying the new operation would be carried out “within a relatively short timeframe because we want to end the war.”
Israeli forces already control nearly 75% of the Gaza Strip.
AFP
