“Israel” to Mobilize Thousands of Reservists Amid Troop Shortages and Gaza Escalation

By Staff, Agencies

Facing a growing crisis in manpower, the “Israeli” military has announced plans to mobilize thousands of reservists as it prepares for a major escalation in its war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The move comes amid the entity’s rejection of a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

According to Hebrew media, including “Yedioth Ahronoth”, the “Israeli” entity is preparing for intensified operations, particularly in Rafah, southern Gaza, where the 36^th Division continues its offensive.

“Several reserve officers have already been warned to be ready for immediate call-up,” the daily reported.

Although the military originally intended to limit reserve duty to 2.5 months in 2025, growing demands have already forced the deployment of battalions for extended tours. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir described the situation as “severe force depletion,” emphasizing the army’s inability to meet operational goals without additional reservists.

Zamir also urged penalties for draft evaders—a veiled critique of the ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jewish community, which has long enjoyed exemptions from military service. Despite plans to send roughly 24,000 draft notices to Haredi youth by the end of June, only 300 have been formally processed, with enforcement remaining lax due to the policies of the entity’s hardline cabinet.

“Israeli” outlets including Channel 12, Kan, and Ynet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations this week regarding the “substantial mobilization” of occupation forces. A cabinet meeting is set for Sunday to vote on the proposed military expansion in Gaza, which has seen increasing violence since the breakdown of a ceasefire in March.

Meanwhile, public dissent among the reservists is growing. Thousands have reportedly signed letters calling on the regime to halt its campaign in Gaza. The entity resumed its deadly offensive on March 18, breaching a two-month truce and unleashing a new wave of destruction.

The Health Ministry in Gaza reported Thursday that at least 2,326 Palestinians have been martyred since the “Israeli” strikes resumed. Overall, more than 52,400 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been martyred in Gaza since October 2023.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former war minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, the entity faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its brutal war on the Palestinian population.