Israeli occupation calls Up 60,000 reserve soldiers ahead of planned Gaza invasion despite global condemnation

The Israeli occupation army is preparing, starting Thursday, to send approximately 60,000 call-up orders to reserve soldiers to occupy Gaza City.This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz approved a military plan to occupy the city, titled "Gideon 2."The approval came after consultations held by Katz with senior Israeli military and security officials, based on a decision issued by the Security Cabinet, according to the Palestinian news agency (WAFA).The occupation army decided to advance the call-up of 60,000 reserve soldiers and extend the service of another 20,000 for an additional 40 days, WAFA said, adding that all orders are expected to be sent tomorrow, but the enlistment dates are set for the beginning of September, about two weeks away.Earlier this week, Israeli Army Chief Eyal Zamir outlined the operational phases of the plan, which include reinforcing Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip, in preparation for the occupation of Gaza City.The plan builds on a decision made on Aug. 8 to present Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for a gradual reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City.The plan also calls for the displacement of approximately one million Palestinian citizens from the city to the southern Gaza Strip, before encircling it and beginning incursions into residential areas.On Aug. 11, the Israeli army began the first phase of its Gaza occupation with a large-scale attack on Al-Zeitoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City. The attack included the use of remote explosive robots to demolish homes, along with artillery shelling, random firing, and forced displacement operations.The decision to occupy the Gaza Strip sparked widespread international condemnation, as Germany announced a ban on arms exports to the Israeli entity, while British and French newspapers called for comprehensive sanctions on it.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the decision, saying that the Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong. He urged it to reconsider immediately.Starmer warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and emphasised the urgent need for a ceasefire.The genocide committed by Israel in Gaza resulted in the martyrdom of 62,064 Palestinians and the injury of 156,573-most of them women and children-along with over 11,000 missing persons, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 266 citizens, including 112 children.