Minister of Defense Israel Katz has given the green light to the military's plans to take control of Gaza city, writes among others The Times of Israel. According to source information, Katz is said to have "praised" the plan, which was developed at the government's request.
Around 60,000 reservists will now be called in. The call-up orders may come as early as Wednesday, but those who receive their order have two weeks before they must report, reports The Times of Israel, citing security sources.
However, not all of those called up will participate in the operation to take control of Gaza city, the sources say. Some will instead replace existing forces in other areas.
Israel's takeover of Gaza city will, according to the military, be preceded by evacuations of the city's approximately one million inhabitants. At the latest by October 7 - the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war - they are to be relocated south, where Israel claims to be establishing "humanitarian infrastructure". Thereafter, Israel will move in with ground forces, besiege the area and kill the remaining Hamas members, according to the official Israeli version.
The plan to take control of Gaza city has been condemned by a long list of world leaders and international organizations.
