Defense Minister 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.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have the military's plan presented to him tomorrow, reports Israeli media.
About 60,000 reservists will now be called in in different phases. The call-up orders may come as early as Wednesday, but those who receive their order have two weeks before they must report, writes The Times of Israel, citing security sources.
130,000 soldiers
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 in the process of establishing "humanitarian infrastructure".
Then Israel will go in with ground forces consisting of five military units, besiege the area, and kill the remaining Hamas members, according to the official Israeli version.
The total number of soldiers to participate in the offensive is 130,000, writes Israeli media. According to the military, "preparatory operations" are currently underway in Zeitun and Jabalia in Gaza City. On Wednesday, Israel issued an immediate evacuation order for residents of Jabalia.
Tear families apart
The plan to take control of Gaza City has been condemned by a long list of world leaders and international organizations. On Wednesday, the International Red Cross Committee warns that the move will worsen an already catastrophic situation.
"The civilian population lives under dreadful conditions. With 80 percent of Gaza already affected by evacuation orders, it is unthinkable that civilians should be forced to move to an even smaller area," they say in a statement, according to Haaretz.
"Any further escalation of military operations will only deepen the suffering, tear more families apart, and risk an irreversible humanitarian crisis."
Germany and France are also directing sharp criticism at the plan after Katz's approval on Wednesday, reports AFP.
