Starting from Wednesday, about 60,000 Israeli reservists will receive summonses to participate in military operations targeting Gaza City. Israeli Defense Minister Katz has already approved the operational plan for taking over Gaza City.
According to the Israeli newspaper “Israel Times,” the mobilization will be conducted in three stages. The first wave of around 40,000 to 50,000 reservists is expected to report on September 2. The second wave of summonses is planned for November to December of this year, and the third wave is scheduled for February to March 2026.
Additionally, some of the reservists already summoned will have their service extended by 30 to 40 days to have approximately 130,000 reservists participating in the offensive simultaneously.
The military clarifies that not all reservists will directly engage in taking over Gaza City; some will be sent to other war zones to replace active-duty forces. The mobilized forces also include intelligence and logistics personnel to provide operational support.
In total, Israel plans to deploy tens of thousands of troops from five divisions to participate in the Gaza City operation, which includes 12 brigade-level operational groups covering infantry, armor, artillery, engineers, and combat support units. Both the northern and southern brigades of the Gaza division (usually responsible for border defense) will also join the operation, totaling 14 brigades.
The Israeli Defense Forces indicate that the operation to take over Gaza City is codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots B,” a continuation of a previous operation of the same name. In the previous operation, Israel had captured approximately 75% of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a prisoner exchange.
Military preparations for the offensive are underway, with ongoing military operations in the suburbs of Gaza City. The Nahal Infantry Brigade and the 7th Armored Brigade are engaged in combat in the Zeitoun community, while the Givati Infantry Brigade is launching a new offensive in the northern part of Gaza City in Kafr Jabalia.
Israeli officials state that they plan to issue evacuation warnings to civilians in Gaza City, urging them to evacuate by October 7, 2025. This date coincides with the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s attacks on Israel.
Subsequently, the Israeli military will encircle Gaza City and gradually advance into areas where Hamas infrastructure has not been completely cleared.
To accommodate the evacuation of 1 million civilians from Gaza City, humanitarian infrastructure is being established in the southern part of Gaza, with tents and shelter equipment permitted to enter.
Furthermore, additional relief distribution points will be established, along with at least two field hospitals. The European Hospital in Khan Younis, which was temporarily closed after Hamas tunnels were discovered below, is expected to resume operations.
A security official stated, “As part of the preparations to transfer residents from Gaza City to the south, we have engaged in dialogue with international organizations to establish additional field hospitals, and received positive responses.”
He added, “The UN and relevant organizations have started formulating a plan to reopen the European Hospital to enhance additional medical services.”
While the military strategizes for military operations, Hamas announced on Monday that they have accepted a ceasefire proposal. If a prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement are reached, the plan to take over Gaza City may be canceled.
Defense Minister Katz approved the operational plan on Tuesday evening, with the plan set to be submitted for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s review on Thursday.
Israeli officials reported that Hamas is currently holding 50 hostages. Among them, at least 28 individuals have been confirmed dead, their bodies held captive, 20 are believed to be alive, and the status of 2 others remains unknown.