"Israel launches assault on Gaza City, potentially encountering issues with a fatigued military workforce"
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced a massive assault on Gaza City, calling up tens of thousands of reservists to join the ongoing war. This move comes after nearly two years of conflict, with Gaza City being identified as one of the last Hamas strongholds.
In an interview a year and a half ago, Netanyahu predicted the intense phase of the fighting would be over in weeks, not months. However, the operation could take five months or more, according to military sources. In an effort to expedite the timeline, Netanyahu has instructed the military to shorten the operation's duration.
The Israeli military primarily relies on reservists to continue fighting in Gaza. As of late August 2025, approximately 60,000 reservists have been ordered to be called up for military service related to the Gaza offensive. However, it's uncertain what percentage of reservists will answer the call to serve again in Gaza.
A small reservist organization in Israel has renewed calls for soldiers to decline military orders to serve, citing concerns about the ongoing war and the safety of hostages. Avshalom Zohar Sal, a veteran soldier who has served more than 300 days in Gaza on four different deployments, is no longer willing to return to the front line. Zohar Sal expressed concerns about the ongoing war in Gaza and the safety of hostages, and believes the Israeli military's goal of destroying Hamas is unachievable.
The Israeli military needs to bring in 60,000 more reserve troops and extend the service of another 20,000 for the operation. Military leaders have called for the government to draft ultra-Orthodox men into service to supplement the beleaguered troops. This proposal has been met with controversy, as it could potentially violate religious laws and traditions.
Reserve call-up notices are mandatory for many, but the military shows little willingness to punish or prosecute those who decline or avoid the call. According to a new survey from the Agam Labs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, approximately 40% of soldiers are slightly or significantly less motivated to serve.
Defrin, the military spokesman, stated that the IDF uses intelligence and other capabilities to protect hostages. However, he could only promise to do their best to not harm the hostages. Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz predicted some reservists may not show up for duty, describing the current plan as having "no logic."
As the war in Gaza continues, the Israeli military is already on the outskirts of Gaza City, according to IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin. Now, Netanyahu claims a new operation is the fastest way to end Israel's longest war. The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Israeli reservists called up for this operation face a challenging and uncertain mission ahead.
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