Our forces are already controlling the outskirts of the city, says the spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin to the newspaper.
Defrin further confirms that call-up orders for a total of 60,000 reservists will be sent out this week, and that an additional 20,000 will be sent out later in August.
A total of 130,000 soldiers are expected to participate in the offensive, according to Israeli media.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a statement that he has instructed the military to "shorten the timelines for taking control of the last terrorist strongholds and defeating Hamas", writes The Times of Israel.
The IDF's plan to capture Gaza City will be presented to Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday, according to the newspaper.
Two-year anniversary in focus
The military has previously stated that the capture of Gaza City will be preceded by evacuations of the city's approximately one million inhabitants.
By October 7 at the latest – the two-year anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered the war – they are expected to be relocated south, where Israel claims to be establishing "humanitarian infrastructure".
Thereafter, Israel plans to enter with ground forces, besiege the area, and kill remaining Hamas members.
Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF issued an immediate evacuation order for residents of Jabalia, where and in Zeitun "preparatory operations" have been ongoing during the day.
Effie Defrin tells The Jerusalem Post that the IDF is working to ensure that the city's inhabitants can be evacuated safely and have access to emergency aid and healthcare.
Yes to ceasefire
The announcement of the invasion comes the day after Hamas agreed to a proposal for a ceasefire.
Israel has not yet given an official response to the proposal, which is reported to be "almost identical" to a previous American proposal that Israel then agreed to, reports the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
According to the state-owned Egyptian Al-Qahera, it involves a 60-day ceasefire, during which several Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinians will be released at the same time as more emergency aid is allowed into Gaza.
