Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has approved a military plan for the conquest of Gaza City and authorized the call-up of nearly 60,000 reservists. The move comes amid growing international pressure to halt the conflict and as mediators wait for Israel’s formal response to the latest ceasefire proposal. This decision is expected to intensify fighting in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has already reached critical levels.
According to officials, the security cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already approved the Gaza City plan earlier in August. Katz’s latest order now paves the way for its implementation. The plan has raised concerns that further military operations will worsen conditions for civilians, as Gaza is already struggling with destroyed infrastructure, food shortages, and mass displacement.
On the ground, conditions are being described as catastrophic by local authorities. Mustafa Qazzaat, head of the Gaza municipality emergency committee, reported that large numbers of people were fleeing eastern neighborhoods. He warned that the scale of displacement was growing rapidly as the conflict expands. Families have been forced to leave their homes under continuous bombardment, with little access to basic necessities.
Residents described the destruction in heartbreaking terms. Anis Daloul, a 64-year-old resident, said Israeli forces had destroyed most buildings in the Zeitoun area, leaving thousands homeless. He added that countless families were struggling to find safe shelter and that the humanitarian situation had reached unbearable limits. Such accounts reflect the severe toll that expanded military operations are having on ordinary civilians.
Despite growing calls for restraint, Israeli officials argue that conquering Gaza City is necessary to weaken Hamas and secure the country. However, humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that such a strategy risks causing massive civilian casualties and worsening an already dire crisis. Mediators continue to push for a ceasefire, but Israel’s latest move suggests the conflict may escalate before any agreement is reached.
The planned assault underscores the high-stakes political and military calculations driving Israel’s actions. While leaders insist on pursuing their security goals, international observers caution that further escalation could destabilize the region and prolong human suffering in Gaza. The coming days are expected to be decisive for both military operations and diplomatic efforts toward a fragile truce.