Israel approves plan to take control of Gaza City

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Wednesday said that a plan has been approved to seize control of Gaza City, AFP reported.

A ministry spokesperson told the news agency that the plan had been approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, adding that he had also authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists to carry it out.

Tel Aviv had announced on August 8 its plans to take military control of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in its nearly two-year-long war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The approval of the plan on Wednesday comes even as mediators who have been pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza await an official response from Tel Aviv on their latest proposal.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on Gaza since then, leaving more than 61,000 persons dead.

Tel Aviv has also enforced a severe blockade on humanitarian aid, which UN officials say has brought the population to the verge of famine.

Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks since July 6. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to major disagreements between the two sides.

The talks are being mediated by neighbouring Egypt, Qatar and the United...

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