Israeli Military Issues 60,000 Reserve Orders as Gaza Death Toll Climbs
The Israeli military has issued 60,000 new reserve orders and extended service for 20,000 troops already on duty, signaling preparations for intensified ground operations in Gaza City. Meanwhile, relentless bombardment has left at least 35 Palestinians dead since dawn, with families fleeing south in search of safety that remains elusive.
Army Expands Reserve Force
In a statement released on Telegram, the Israeli army said the decision on reserves followed “in-depth discussions on the extent of manpower required for the continuation of combat.” The move, it added, was approved by the Minister of Defense after a review of “all implications.”
The expansion brings tens of thousands of additional soldiers under military service as Israel presses forward with its campaign in northern Gaza and on the outskirts of Gaza City. The decision reflects preparations for what officials describe as a full occupation of Gaza’s largest urban center.
Renewed Assaults in Jabalia and Gaza City
Israeli forces have resumed assaults in Jabalia, a densely populated refugee camp in northern Gaza, and in surrounding neighborhoods of Gaza City. Witnesses report heavy bombardment, with residential blocks reduced to rubble.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, described the devastation as deliberate. “We have testimonies from people that Israel is destroying tower blocks there, ensuring these areas will turn into lifeless wasteland, uninhabitable for residents,” he said.
Satellite images and footage from the ground confirm widespread destruction, with entire districts flattened in recent days.
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Dozens Killed Since Dawn
Medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic that at least 35 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since early morning. Among the victims were 10 aid seekers shot in central and southern Gaza, raising alarm among humanitarian groups already struggling to deliver relief in the besieged enclave.
Hospitals, many of them running on emergency generators and short of supplies, say they are unable to cope with the rising influx of casualties. Aid workers describe chaotic scenes as families search for missing relatives amid mounting fatalities.
Families Flee South, But Safety Elusive
Despite the escalating danger, thousands of Palestinian families continue to flee south from Gaza City. Reporters on the ground have observed people walking for miles on foot, while others move with donkey carts or cram into overloaded vehicles.
Abu Azzoum noted that families are desperate but aware that no part of Gaza is shielded from Israeli air attacks. “They are moving from areas witnessing heavy Israeli bombardment to areas already overwhelmed with displaced people,” he said.
Southern Gaza, particularly al-Mawasi, has become the primary destination for the displaced. But humanitarian agencies warn the zone is overcrowded with makeshift tents and lacks critical infrastructure, including clean water, food supplies, and medical facilities. Hospitals in Khan Younis and Rafah, already overwhelmed with the injured, cannot absorb a further surge in casualties.
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Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Aid groups warn that conditions in Gaza are deteriorating rapidly, with displacement, food shortages, and lack of medical care compounding the humanitarian crisis. The destruction of residential neighborhoods has left thousands homeless, forcing families to shelter in schools, mosques, and overcrowded encampments.
The United Nations and international relief organizations have repeatedly called for immediate humanitarian access and protection for civilians. However, ongoing Israeli strikes and restrictions on aid entry have left relief operations struggling to meet urgent needs.
No Safe Haven in Gaza
For Palestinians caught in the conflict, the sense of despair is deepening. “It’s clear to everyone in Gaza that no place is safe,” Abu Azzoum reported, highlighting the futility of families’ attempts to escape air raids.
With reserves mobilized, ground assaults intensifying, and civilian casualties mounting, fears are growing that the coming days may bring even deadlier escalations in Gaza’s ongoing tragedy.
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