Thousands of reservists have begun reporting for duty as the Israeli military presses ahead with its offensive to conquer Gaza City.
Ground forces are already pushing into the outskirts of Gaza's largest urban area, which the military has said is a stronghold of Hamas.
The city is also coming under heavy Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment, with local hospitals saying that more than 50 Palestinians have been killed there since midnight.
The military has ordered residents to evacuate and head south immediately. The UN says an estimated 20,000 have done so over the past two weeks, but almost a million remain.
UN humanitarian officials have warned that the impact of a full-blown offensive would be 'beyond catastrophic', not only for those in the city but for the entire Gaza Strip.
Last month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 60,000 reservists would be called up ahead of 'Operation Gideon's Chariots II' – the next phase of the ground offensive launched in May, leading to control of at least 75% of Gaza.
On Tuesday, an Israeli military official stated that thousands had begun reporting for duty.
Israeli media reported that many reservists will be deployed to the occupied West Bank and northern Israel to free up active-duty personnel for the offensive, though some combat units are seeing lower turnout with reservists requesting exemptions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to conquer all of Gaza following failed indirect talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release in July.
At a government meeting, he declared the IDF's objective as defeating Hamas and freeing hostages held by the group.
The hostages' families fear the new offensive will endanger their loved ones and are urging the prime minister to negotiate a release deal.
Amid rising casualties—at least 95 Palestinians were reported killed since midnight—Israeli military plans are drawing increasing scrutiny for their potential humanitarian implications, highlighting a complex and troubling situation on the ground.
