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The Israeli military is planning to call up 80,000 to 100,000 reserve soldiers for an operation to occupy Gaza City, according to Israeli media reports.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir approved the "main framework" of an attack plan for the occupation of Gaza City, including the Zeitoun neighborhood, where Israel has been conducting attacks since Tuesday.
Following approval of the plan's main framework, Zamir established preliminary parameters calling for the mobilization of 80,000 to 100,000 reserve troops under emergency order 8, according to the report.
Additional discussions are planned for the coming days regarding the nature of operations and maneuvering methods against Gaza City and western high-rise buildings.
The occupation operation in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip regions is expected to continue into 2026, according to the media report.
Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Aug. 8. Before the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview that they aimed to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.
Media reports before the cabinet meeting indicated that attacks would be conducted in phases, starting first in Gaza City before extending to refugee camps in the central areas where Palestinian refugees reside.
Zamir met with army command officials and Shin Bet internal intelligence officials to discuss the main outlines of the Gaza City occupation plan.
The meeting also addressed attacks launched on the Zeitoun neighborhood since Aug. 12.
The Chief of Staff's approval came two days ahead of schedule following discussions with the General Staff forum, Shin Bet representatives, and additional commanders.
Earlier this week, before Zamir approved the initial framework, military officials clarified that the operation could not be executed without calling up reserves.
"We will unequivocally mobilize reserves, and the question will not be whether - but how many," Israeli military sources stated.
"The perspective is not only on Gaza in light of the harvest period in the West Bank in autumn. We will take into account the holiday period. We will present several alternatives according to the method that will be chosen, and these will be formulated later," sources added, according to the report.
During the Security Cabinet discussion last week, Chief of Staff Zamir warned against an operation to occupy the Strip, but his proposal was rejected.
He clarified that he would implement whatever the political level decided but expressed opposition to the occupation option.
Zamir warned of the implications, including harm to hostages and erosion of forces, and proposed an alternative action plan involving encirclement.
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