Haaretz: Israel calls up reserve forces and prepares to completely occupy the Gaza Strip and impose military rule
Haaretz newspaper quoted Israeli security sources on Friday that preparations are underway to implement Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s grand plan to launch a large-scale ground attack on the Gaza Strip by calling up several military divisions, including reserve forces.
Sources said that Israel is still leaving the door open to a deal to release some of the hostages.
Haaretz added that the escalation appears likely to worsen without a deal being reached due to government pressure to expand the fighting.
The Israeli newspaper said that Israel appears to be hiding the true intentions of the government and the army for the time being, explaining that while negotiations with dubious outcomes are awaited, the ground is being prepared for a large-scale operation to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Israel announced the launch of a limited ground operation and the recapture of the Netzarim axis in the central Gaza Strip.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s government launched this operation, which later expanded, after Israel refused to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and resumed airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 Palestinians in four days.
