Israel is gearing up to intensify its military operations in Gaza, potentially within a matter of days, and is expected to begin summoning tens of thousands of reservists, as indicated by a source familiar with the situation.
This decision to expand the ground offensive came after a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet on Friday, according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The increased military campaign is occurring as Netanyahu faces mounting pressure both domestically and internationally to resolve the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which has persisted for over 18 months.
Israeli forces and tanks have taken control of approximately one-third of Gaza since a two-month ceasefire concluded in mid-March, and Israel has restricted humanitarian aid to the more than 2 million residents of the region.
Hamas, which is backed by Iran, continues to maintain significant control over the coastal territory and is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, taken during the deadly assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Some members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have recently advocated for a military escalation aimed at dismantling Hamas, even if it endangers the lives of hostages.
However, a majority of Israelis are calling for an end to the conflict, suggesting that hostages should be exchanged for imprisoned Palestinian militants, as revealed by a recent poll reported by the state-owned Kan News.
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