Israel calls up 60,000 reservists as they authorize operation in Gaza
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has escalated significantly, with Israel launching a major offensive to capture Gaza City as of late August 2025. This offensive, which began on August 20, is part of the ongoing Gaza war that started in 2023.
Hamas has strongly condemned the offensive and rejected ceasefire proposals by Egypt and Qatar, insisting on their demand for an independent Palestinian state and refusing to disarm. The Israeli government, on the other hand, describes Hamas as being under "immense pressure."
The civilian population in Gaza, estimated to be around one million people, is urged to flee ahead of the offensive to tent camps further south in the coastal strip. This advice comes as the humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen, with a man-made famine crisis affecting over half a million people currently facing starvation.
The UN reports that acute malnutrition affects tens of thousands of children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the overall humanitarian situation includes massive displacement, injury, and death. The famine and humanitarian collapse are described as catastrophic, not caused by natural factors but by the conflict itself.
Regional tensions remain high, with ongoing hostilities involving other actors such as the Houthis in Yemen, Israeli strikes in Lebanon, and incursions in Syria. The international community continues to advocate a two-State solution as the only viable long-term resolution to this conflict and emphasizes urgent collective action, especially in light of the approaching UN General Assembly week in September.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has approved the mobilization of an additional 60,000 reservists for the takeover of Gaza City. The offensive is expected to involve mainly active duty soldiers, with the reserve service of around 20,000 more soldiers to be extended. Up to 130,000 reservists could be deployed in the Gaza Strip after the new mobilizations.
The military wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that such operations will continue until the occupation ends and their people gain freedom. In response, Israeli troops are already present in suburbs of the city of Gaza, including the neighborhoods of Al-Saitun and Dschabalija.
The Israeli government has also approved a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank, potentially making a contiguous territory for a future Palestinian state more difficult. The Israeli planning committee has approved building plans for settlements in the E1 area between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, which involves the construction of around 3,400 housing units.
In international relations, several countries, including France, Canada, and Australia, have expressed their intention to recognize a Palestinian state next month. However, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced corresponding settlement plans, stating that this step finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state.
The military's plan aims to ensure the supply of medical aid and food for the displaced civilians. Since the start of the war almost two years ago, figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority show that more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed. Despite the ongoing conflict, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip reject a two-state solution.
[1] The Guardian, "Israel launches major offensive to capture Gaza City," August 2025. [2] Reuters, "Gaza civilians urged to flee ahead of Israeli offensive," August 2025. [3] Al Jazeera, "Protests in Israel over Gaza offensive," August 2025. [4] BBC News, "Gaza crisis: UN warns of man-made famine," August 2025.
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