Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the mobilization of 60,000 reservists after giving the green light to capture Gaza City, amid mediation efforts to achieve a truce in the Palestinian territories and the release of hostages.

In early August, the security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a plan to take over the city and neighboring refugee camps, establish control over the entire Palestinian territory,

free the hostages, and disarm the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Katz "approved the plan for an Israeli army attack on Gaza City," the capital and largest city in the Palestinian territory, his ministry told AFP.

He also "approved the issuance of mobilization orders for the reservists needed to carry out the mission" for about 60,000 people.

For a week, the Israeli army, which has captured about 75% of Palestinian territory in more than 22 months of war, has intensified its strikes and operations on the ground in Gaza City and neighboring refugee camps.

According to the Israeli website Walla, "the 99th Division is about to complete the takeover of the Zeitoun neighborhood" in Gaza City, with the neighboring Sabra neighborhood as its "next target."

"The explosions are continuing in Al-Sabra. Tanks and artillery are firing at us, but so are drones," said Hussein al-Daari, a resident of the neighborhood.

The Israeli army said its forces were operating there to destroy "Hamas' military capabilities."

The defense minister's decision comes two days after Hamas announced that it had accepted a new proposal from mediators Egypt, Qatar, and the US for a 60-day truce, accompanied by the release of hostages in two stages.

Israel has not yet responded officially, but a government source said Netanyahu's government had "not changed" its policy and continued to "demand the release" of all hostages "in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet for ending the war."

"We are in the decisive phase of the fight against Hamas and we will not leave a single hostage behind," she added.

Welcoming Hamas' "very positive" response, Qatar stressed earlier that the proposal reproduced "almost entirely" a US plan previously accepted by Israel.

The text is based on a previous plan by US envoy Steve Wintkoff: the release of ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce and negotiations to end the war, according to Israeli public radio Kan.

Far-right ministers, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, warned Netanyahu not to "give in to Hamas."

Two previous truces in November 2023 and early 2025 allowed the return of living and dead hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. | BGNES