Israel has called up 60,000 reservists as part of preparations that could include a plan to seize Gaza City. Hamas has accepted a proposed 60-day ceasefire that would exchange 10 living hostages and 18 bodies for about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners; Israel has not officially responded. Israel insists all remaining 50 hostages must be released immediately, with officials estimating about 20 remain alive. The security cabinet approved the Gaza City plan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right coalition members to reject a temporary ceasefire. Intensified shelling has displaced thousands in Gaza City.
Calling up tens of thousands of reservists is also likely to take weeks, giving time for mediators to attempt to bridge gaps over a new temporary ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, but the Israeli government is yet to officially respond to. The proposal calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas militants and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Israeli government has restated that all of the remaining 50 hostages held by militants in Gaza must be released at once. Israeli officials believe that around 20 of them are still alive. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with some cabinet ministers on Thursday to discuss his plan to seize Gaza City, according to Haaretz and other Israeli media, without giving more details. The plan was approved this month by the security cabinet, which he chairs, even though many of Israel's closest allies have urged the government to reconsider.
"We are facing a bitter-bitter situation, to die at home or leave and die somewhere else, as long as this war continues, survival is uncertain," said Rabah Abu Elias, 67, a father of seven.
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