The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began sending out up to 60,000 draft orders to reservists in preparation for the next phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots II, which aims to take control of Gaza City. The conscripted soldiers usually have at least two weeks to prepare, and some units will also be deployed to relieve standing forces on other fronts.
Minister for Defence Israel Katz on Wednesday approved the Army's operational plan, which follows the spring "Gideon's Chariots" campaign. Two variations of the name - "Gideon's Chariots II" and "Gideon's Chariots B" - have appeared in the public sphere, but both are associated with the systematic block-by-block capture of Gaza City and subsequent longer-term Israeli security control. State broadcaster KAN has confirmed the name of the new phase, although final approval has yet to be passed by the Israeli cabinet.
The extent of mobilisation varies from source to source. While some information speaks of 60,000 new recruits and the extension of service for another 20,000, others state that for selected reserve battalions the service will be extended by 40-60 days and that five divisions will be involved in the operation - the 36th, 162nd, 98th, 99th and also a special Gaza division.
Some estimates even mention that the number of simultaneously deployed reservists could reach 130,000 at some point. These differences reflect the dynamics of planning and the fact that the call-ups are taking place in waves.
The timing of the operation is intertwined with diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. The Israeli government is thus faced with a fundamental dilemma: on the one hand, the pressure from the army to launch the military phase, and on the other, the efforts of the hostage families and the international community to prevent further loss of life. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is critical and evacuations of local residents continue.
gnews.cz - GH
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