On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced the start of a major ground operation aimed at seizing full control of Gaza City and displacing its remaining civilian population. According to Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin, troops have already advanced to the outskirts of the city and are preparing for a protracted urban offensive.
This operation follows a decision made last week by Israel’s security cabinet to approve a comprehensive plan for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, despite reported opposition from within sections of the Israeli military leadership who warned about the risks of extended urban warfare and the strain on national resources.
As part of the campaign, Israel plans to call up between 50,000 and 60,000 reservists, who are expected to report for duty starting in September. The call-up comes amid declining morale among reservists, with a Hebrew University study revealing that a majority now hold a negative view of the war effort. Reports earlier this year indicated that more than 60 percent of reservists failed to report for duty during the March mobilization.
On the same day, Israel rejected a ceasefire proposal from Hamas, which offered the release of 10 Israeli prisoners of war and the return of 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day truce. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to reject the proposal followed pressure from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionist Party from the coalition if even a partial deal were accepted.
The current operation includes plans to forcibly transfer Gaza City’s population to designated zones in the southern Gaza Strip. Many international observers and humanitarian organizations warn that this measure may pave the way for a broader campaign of mass displacement, including the removal of Gaza's Palestinian population which several Israeli officials and U.S. President Donald Trump have suggested is a long-term objective.