Tel Aviv calls up about 60,000 reservists before new offensive

Israel’s military called up about 60,000 reservists on Wednesday in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to take control of Gaza’s biggest urban hub despite international criticism. Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said. Defrin added the troops had already begun circling the outskirts of Gaza City.

Israeli troops clashed on Wednesday with more than 15 Hamas militants who emerged from tunnel shafts and attacked with gunfire and anti-tank missiles near Khan Younis, south of Gaza City, severely wounding one soldier and lightly wounding two others.

On the reservists, a military official said those soldiers would not report for duty until September, a move that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel over ceasefire terms.

The official added that as part of planning for a new offensive in Gaza there would be five divisions operating in the enclave but most reservists were not expected to serve in combat in Gaza City.

Further, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a reduction in timelines for taking control of Hamas strongholds and defeating the militant group. The statement did not specify the new timelines.

Now, Hamas has accepted a proposal put forward by Arab mediators for a 60-day ceasefire that would involve releasing some of the hostages and freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The Israeli government, which has said all the 50 remaining hostages must be released at once, is studying the proposal. Later in the day, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer met with senior Qatari officials in Paris to discuss the truce and hostage deal. He reiterated that the condition for a deal was the release of all hostages.