JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 — Tens of thousands of Israeli reservists began reporting for duty on Tuesday as the military said it was stepping up its buildup ahead of a planned offensive to seize the Gaza City.
“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is preparing for the reception of reservists ahead of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II,” the military said in a statement, referring to the name it has given the planned assault.
“In recent days, the IDF has been carrying out logistical and operational preparations ahead of expanded combat operations and the large-scale mobilization of reservists,” the statement said.
“The troops are completing a series of training sessions in combat in both urban and open terrain to improve their readiness for upcoming missions,” it added.
Israel’s Army Radio reported that around 40,000 reservists are expected to report for duty on Tuesday, making it one of the largest call-ups since the start of the conflict nearly two years ago.
According to the Israeli military, the operation will involve roughly 130,000 reservists in addition to five regular divisions. The capture of the city is expected to be gradual and may continue into 2026.
The operation has drawn widespread international criticism over its potential impact on hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the already devastated city.
Meanwhile, the health authorities in Gaza reported Tuesday that at least 76 people were killed and 281 others injured by Israeli strikes and gunfire over the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 63,633.
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip recorded 13 more deaths, including three children, from famine and malnutrition, raising the total hunger-related death toll to 361, of whom 130 are children. (Xinhua)
