Israel military controls 40% of Gaza City, says spokesman

The Israeli military has operational control of 40% of the area of Gaza City, according to army spokesman Effie Defrin on Thursday.

“The operation will continue to expand and intensify in the coming days,” he said.

“Hamas will face the IDF in full power in Gaza City. We will increase the pressure on Hamas until its decisive defeat,” Defrin said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to mobilize reservists. The steps come after the Israeli security cabinet decided to capture the city and announced plans to mobilize 60,000 reservists for this purpose.

The call-up began on Tuesday after the IDF had conducted operations in the suburbs of Gaza.

Israel justifies the plans by saying the aim is to dismantle Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and capture its last strongholds in Gaza.

But criticism is growing worldwide of Israel’s plans mainly due to the continued humanitarian crisis, as Gaza residents must flee to other parts of the devastated strip amid the catastrophic situation there.

Meanwhile in Israel, relatives of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip also fear that the military operation endangers the hostages’ chances of survival.

They are calling for an end to the war and an agreement for the release of the hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to ignore the latest proposal for the release of some hostages in exchange for a ceasefire which Hamas said it has agreed.

The latest proposal on a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas goes back to a plan by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which envisages a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

But Netanyahu has since insisted he wants a comprehensive deal that facilities the release of all hostages at once. He also wants Hamas to capitulate and demilitarize – which the militant group rejects.