Jerusalem, August 20, 2025 – Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved a military plan to seize Gaza City, authorizing the mobilization of approximately 60,000 reservists to intensify pressure on Hamas, according to a ministry spokesperson. The move, confirmed to AFP, comes as mediators push for a ceasefire in the nearly two-year conflict, with Hamas accusing Israel of showing “blatant disregard” for peace efforts and labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “the real obstacle to any agreement.”
The plan, approved by Israel’s security cabinet in early August, aims to capture Gaza City and defeat Hamas while securing the release of hostages. It has sparked widespread international concern, with fears it will exacerbate Gaza’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the offensive “can only lead to a complete disaster for both peoples” and risks plunging the region into “permanent war.” Germany also rejected the escalation, with other European allies urging Israel to reconsider.
Hamas recently accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, which includes a 60-day truce, a staggered release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners, and provisions for aid to enter Gaza. Qatar noted the proposal is nearly identical to one previously agreed by Israel, but Netanyahu has yet to respond publicly, insisting on the release of all hostages and the defeat of Hamas as conditions for ending the war. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 believed dead by the Israeli military.
On the ground, Gaza City’s situation is dire. Mustafa Qazzaat, head of the Gaza municipality’s emergency committee, described conditions as “catastrophic,” with thousands fleeing eastern neighborhoods like Zeitoun, where resident Anis Daloul, 64, reported widespread destruction and displacement. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported 25 deaths from Israeli strikes on Wednesday, including eight near an aid site, though the Israeli military requested specific details to verify the claims. Media restrictions in Gaza hinder independent verification of casualty figures.
The Israeli military described the operation as a “gradual, precise, and targeted” effort in and around Gaza City, with troops already active in Zeitoun and Jabalia. The offensive follows Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s response has resulted in at least 62,122 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures deemed reliable by the U.N.
In the occupied West Bank, Israel approved a major settlement project on Wednesday in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, which the international community warns threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority condemned the move as entrenching territorial division.[
International pressure is mounting on Israel to halt the offensive and resume ceasefire talks, with the U.N. and aid groups warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis, including severe malnutrition and displacement in Gaza.
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