Israel’s military called up tens of thousands of reservists yesterday 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.
The call-up signals Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to take control of Gaza’s biggest urban hub despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians.
But a military official briefing reporters said reserve soldiers would not report for duty until September, a move that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel over ceasefire terms.
Israel’s security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a plan this month to expand the campaign in Gaza, with the aim of seizing Gaza City.
More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s campaign, according to Gaza health officials.
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. Israeli authorities believe that 20 hostages are still alive.
Many Gazans and foreign leaders fear an assault on Gaza City would cause significant casualties.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, said a widely condemned settlement plan that would cut across land which the Palestinians seek for a state received final approval yesterday.
The approval of the E1 project, which would bisect the occupied West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, was announced last week by Smotrich and received final go-ahead from a defence ministry planning commission, he said.
l A 58 per cent majority of Americans believe that every country in the United Nations should recognise Palestine as a nation, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. Some 33pc of respondents did not agree that UN members should recognise a Palestinian state and 9pc did not answer.
The six-day poll was taken within weeks of three countries, Canada, Britain and France, announcing they intend to recognise the State of Palestine.
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