Israel Calls Up Tens of Thousands of Reservists Ahead of Gaza Operation’s Next Phase

Israel has called up about 60,000 reservists ahead of an expansion of its operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Aug. 20.

In a post on X, the IDF stated that the new reserve orders were issued on the morning of Aug. 20, while another 20,000 reservists had their service extended as part of the next phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

The operation is named after the biblical warrior Gideon, who, according to the Book of Judges, led the Israelites to victory over the Midianite army with just 300 men. It is currently unclear when the next phase of the operation will commence.

The move comes almost two weeks after the Jewish state approved plans to take control of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, while distributing humanitarian aid to civilians outside combat zones amid international pushback.

Ahead of that decision, Israel’s security cabinet endorsed five principles for ending the war.

These include disarming the Hamas terrorist group, securing the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, maintaining Israel’s security control over the territory, and establishing an alternative civil administration unaffiliated with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

The mobilization announcement comes as Arab mediators continue their moves to try to bring the conflict to an end.

The war in the Gaza Strip has raged since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 hostages.

The terrorist group still holds 50 hostages. The Israeli government believes that 20 of them are still alive.

The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health stated on Aug. 18 via Telegram that more than 62,000 people have been killed since the start of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, which was a response to the Hamas attacks. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in these casualty figures, and The Epoch Times cannot verify their accuracy.

On Aug. 19, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the IDF’s Gaza Division. During the trip, he described Hamas as being under “immense pressure.”

Netanyahu also criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said, “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

In response to the comments, Albanese told reporters: “I don’t take these things personally. I engage with people diplomatically. He has had similar things to say about other leaders.”

Arab mediators and Hamas stated this week that the leaders of the terrorist group had agreed to cease-fire terms, although similar announcements have been made in the past that did not lead to a lasting truce.

Egypt and Qatar stated that they have been waiting for Israel’s response to the cease-fire proposal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that “the ball is now in Israel’s court” on Aug. 19 during various phone calls with foreign ministers from the UK, Turkey, and the European Union, as well as during a call with Hussein Al Sheikh, vice president of the Palestinian Authority, according to a statement released by the Egyptian ministry.

He noted that progress had been made in recent cease-fire talks held in Cairo with the Hamas delegation and that this round focused on a proposal from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Qatar also stated that Hamas had approved a new cease-fire proposal on Aug. 19.

“It includes a temporary ceasefire for 60 days, during which a number of prisoners and hostages will be exchanged, along with the repositioning of Israeli forces and the intensification of humanitarian aid entry according to the terms of the agreement,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its website.

According to the statement, the official spokesperson for the ministry, Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, said Hamas’s response was “very positive” and “largely aligns with what was previously approved by the Israeli side,” but that “the mediation is still awaiting an official response from Israel.”

According to Ansari, the cease-fire would be for 60 days, and an unspecified number of prisoners and hostages would be swapped. Israeli forces would also be repositioned, and humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip would be increased.

There has been no confirmation that Witkoff would go to Cairo or Doha, Qatar, for further negotiations, although communications are ongoing, he said.