Israel calls up 'tens of thousands' of reservists for wider Gaza offensive

Army chief says Israel will 'operate in additional areas' and 'increase pressure' on Hamas

Israel has signalled it will continue to occupy Gaza with the calling up of tens of thousands of reservists, leaving the January ceasefire deal dead in the water. EPA

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Israel's military said on Sunday it was calling up tens of thousands of reservists to prepare for a wider operation in Gaza.

The orders are being issued this week to “enhance and expand” Israel's offensive in the strip, said Israeli army chief Maj Gen Eyal Zamir. He said Israel would be “increasing the pressure” with the goal of returning hostages and defeating Hamas.

“We will operate in additional areas and destroy all infrastructure above and below the ground,” he said. It was not clear when or where the reservists would be engaged.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet late on Sunday to discuss “the next stage” of the fighting in Gaza. Hours earlier, Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, landed a missile near Ben Gurion Airport.

Israel has resumed attacks on Gaza since mid-March, seizing large areas of territory despite a ceasefire agreed in January with the help of the US, Qatar and Egypt. Negotiations on a further truce remain continuing.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened ministers for a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday. EPA

The Israeli leadership says it is carving out “security zones” in Gaza that it intends to keep indefinitely as a buffer against Hamas. To the north it has also carried out strikes in Lebanon, despite a November ceasefire.

Mr Netanyahu, who is reliant on far-right politicians at home to remain in power, says Israel has “no choice” but to continue fighting in Gaza. He said on Saturday that Israel “will win this war with just means”.

About 1,000 reservists and veterans recently signed a letter calling on the government to prioritise the release of hostages − even if that meant ending the war. Mr Netanyahu called them an “extremist fringe group” as he backed a move by the air force to dismiss dissenters in the ranks.

Reports last year said the call-up rate had initially been above 100 per cent, as Israeli reservists joined the war effort even if not asked, but later fell to around 75 to 85 per cent.

Warnings are also mounting about the plight of Gazan civilians during the renewed fighting. Aid agency UNRWA has reported looting of food as despair among Palestinians reaches a “critical breaking point”.

Israeli media reported last week that a new plan could see aid distributed by private companies, rather than UN agencies that Mr Netanyahu's government distrusts. This could take place in a designated zone in Rafah, in the south of Gaza.