Israeli Military Mobilizes Thousands of Reservists for Gaza City Offensive

Sat Sep 13 2025 11:22:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Israel intensifies its offensive on Gaza City, thousands of reservists have reported for duty amid rising casualties and humanitarian warnings.

The Israeli military is escalating its offensive against Gaza City, currently a stronghold of Hamas. With ground forces advancing and aerial bombardments resulting in significant casualties among Palestinians, the IDF has mobilized thousands of reservists in preparation for what is coined 'Operation Gideon's Chariots II'. The humanitarian situation is dire, with the UN citing catastrophic conditions resulting from the conflict and warning of famine. Families of hostages remain fearful for their loved ones' safety amid the ongoing military actions.

Thousands of reservists have begun reporting for duty as the Israeli military presses ahead with its offensive to conquer Gaza City.

Ground forces are already pushing into the outskirts of Gaza's largest urban area, which the military has said is a stronghold of Hamas.

The city is also coming under heavy Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment, with local hospitals saying that more than 50 Palestinians have been killed there since midnight.

The military has ordered residents to evacuate and head south immediately. The UN says an estimated 20,000 have done so over the past two weeks, but almost a million remain.

UN humanitarian officials have warned that the impact of a full-blown offensive would be 'beyond catastrophic', not only for those in the city but for the entire Gaza Strip.

Last month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 60,000 reservists would be called up ahead of 'Operation Gideon's Chariots II' – the next phase of the ground offensive launched in May that has seen it take control of at least 75% of Gaza.

Israeli media reported that many reservists would be deployed to the occupied West Bank and northern Israel to free up active-duty personnel for the offensive. However, turnout among some combat units has been lower than previous call-ups, with reservists requesting exemptions for personal or financial reasons.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would conquer all of Gaza after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July. At a government meeting, he stated the IDF's objectives were 'defeating Hamas and releasing all of our hostages.'

The armed group currently holds 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

On the ground in Gaza, hospital officials reported that Israeli strikes and fire had killed at least 95 Palestinians since midnight, with the UN warning that forcing the population to move further south is 'a recipe for further disaster' and could amount to war crimes. The humanitarian crisis worsens as the UN describes a man-made famine unfolding in Gaza.

The hostages' families fear that the new offensive will endanger them and demand that the prime minister negotiate a deal for their release, highlighting the urgent need for action amidst the ongoing hostilities.