Israel’s military is poised to call up thousands of reservists in response to ongoing operations in Gaza, as efforts to broker a ceasefire falter. This decision follows a proposal put forth by Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, head of the Israel Defense Forces, to intensify efforts against Hamas, which was presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Reports from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11 suggest that the plan involves evacuating civilians from northern and central Gaza prior to planned military operations, a strategy reminiscent of tactics used in southern Gaza’s Rafah earlier this year. The Israeli security cabinet is set to review and likely approve this strategy shortly.
The escalation has raised alarms among families of the 59 hostages still in Hamas custody, most of whom were taken during the violent October 7 attack on Israel, which has led to significant casualties in Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has issued a desperate appeal, warning that heightened conflict could endanger the lives of both the living and deceased hostages, stressing that their return is viewed as a paramount moral obligation by the Israeli populace.
Stalled negotiations for the hostages’ release, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have seen repeated failures, with Hamas demanding a permanent ceasefire and Israel accusing the group of rejecting reasonable proposals. Recent remarks by Netanyahu have further complicated diplomatic efforts, as he accused Qatari mediators of playing both sides in the negotiations while reaffirming Israel’s commitment to its military objectives.
The heightened tensions have drawn public protests in Israel, with demonstrators calling for an end to the conflict and the swift release of hostages. In light of these developments, Qatar has rejected claims of undermining peace efforts, accusing Israel of employing humanitarian aid as a political weapon while the blockade of assistance to Gaza persists.
In a controversial statement, Netanyahu expressed that defeating Israel’s adversaries had become a priority over securing the release of the remaining hostages, which sparked criticism from families of the hostages who had previously viewed this as a dual goal of the ongoing campaign. Additionally, Netanyahu’s planned diplomatic visit to Azerbaijan has been postponed, reflecting the ongoing volatility in the region.
As the situation develops, the interplay of military actions, hostage negotiations, and international diplomacy continues to evolve, with the potential for significant implications for all parties involved.