Israel Approves Gaza City Takeover, Mobilizes 60,000 Reservists Amid Crisis
Dubai | August 20, 2025 | 0 | Israel , newsMajor Military Expansion in Gaza
Israel has officially approved a large-scale military operation in Gaza City, which includes the call-up of 60,000 reservists and an extension of service for 20,000 more. The move signals a new phase of the conflict despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire with Hamas.
Defense Minister Israel Katz authorized the plan, which is expected to intensify fighting in northern Gaza and push thousands of Palestinians further south, where hunger and aid restrictions have created a severe humanitarian crisis.
Civilian Crisis Deepens
The Palestinian health ministry reported that dozens of people, including children, have died from starvation in recent weeks. Aid groups have warned that forced displacement into southern Gaza, already overwhelmed by shortages of food, water, and shelter, could trigger a deeper humanitarian disaster.
Growing Protests in Israel
Inside Israel, public anger is rising. Hundreds of thousands of protesters recently staged mass demonstrations and a general strike, demanding an end to the war. Many fear that a full assault on Gaza City could endanger the remaining hostages still held in the enclave.
West Bank Settlement Plan Approved
Alongside the Gaza operation, Israel also granted final approval for a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank. Critics say the plan could split the territory in two, effectively eliminating hopes for a future Palestinian state.
Rights group Peace Now condemned the move, calling it an attempt to block a political solution and push the region toward “an apartheid-style reality.”
Ceasefire Proposal Rejected
The escalation comes after Hamas reportedly accepted a 60-day ceasefire plan brokered by Arab mediators, which included the phased release of around 50 hostages. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated that Israel remains committed to its Gaza City takeover strategy, suggesting that hostage talks are secondary to military goals.
Humanitarian Impact and Satellite Evidence
Satellite images show growing displacement, with tent camps south of Gaza City appearing empty by mid-August after previously housing thousands. Rights groups say this is evidence that Palestinians are being forced to flee ahead of the military advance.
Casualties Since the War Began
The war, triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took about 250 hostages, has left devastating consequences:
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More than 62,000 Palestinians killed, including thousands of children
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Widespread destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals
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Severe restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza