 spokesman Eddie Defrin.){kind=link}
First Stages of the Attack
Israel has begun what it calls the “first stages of the attack on Gaza City”, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Eddie Defrin. “IDF forces are already holding the outskirts of Gaza City,” Defrin said Wednesday.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the military plan, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots II,” which includes calling up 50,000 to 60,000 reservists to occupy the city.
Rising Death Toll
In the past 24 hours, at least 58 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
This offensive comes just days after Hamas said it agreed to a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. Israel has not yet commented on that decision.
International Pushback
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from the international community. On Aug. 8, UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned the offensive “must be immediately halted,” calling it a step toward “more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction.”
Aid groups have also sounded the alarm, with over 100 organizations last month describing the worsening food shortages as “mass starvation.”
Israel’s Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected claims of a starvation policy, arguing that Hamas has been “violently looting aid trucks meant for Palestinian civilians.” Hamas denies those accusations.
Soldier Shortage
The IDF is also struggling with manpower. Officials estimate a shortage of 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers, partly due to low enlistment from Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community.
To fill the gap, military leaders are looking to Jewish communities abroad, particularly in the United States and France, hoping to recruit 600–700 young Jews each year for service in Israel.
For more on the Israel-Hamas war, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.