Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of planned Gaza City offensive

Israel is calling to duty tens of thousands of reservists AHEAD of a full-scale ground offensive into Gaza City which it says serves as Hamas's governing stronghold.

Lee Eun-jin has the latest.

After Israeli troops clashed with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to shorten the timeline for taking control of Hamas strongholds and defeating the militant group.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Wednesday that the military has begun preliminary action and is already on the outskirts of Gaza City.

"We will deepen the damage to the terror infrastructure above and below the ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas. We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City. IDF forces are already holding the outskirts of Gaza City."

The Israeli military called up around 60-thousand reservists on Wednesday ahead of a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying all of Gaza City, a massive assault with the aim of eliminating Hamas.

These reserve soldiers were not expected to report for duty until September, and when Israel's security cabinet first approved the takeover of Gaza City, officials had expected the plan to take up to five months, giving an interval that would allow for mediators to bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel over truce terms.

Hamas said it accepted a ceasefire deal on Monday, proposed by mediators Qatar and Egypt for a 60-day truce and the release of around half of the hostages.

Israel did not submit a formal response, but insisted it would only accept a comprehensive deal that releases all the hostages.

Following Israel's latest offensive on Wednesday, Hamas has accused Netanyahu of disregarding the mediators' ceasefire proposal, calling him the "real obstructionist of any agreement."

Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.