Israel Calls Up 60,000 Reservists Ahead of Planned Gaza City Offensive
Israel Calls Up 60,000 Reservists Ahead of Planned Gaza City Offensive
Several councils in England are preparing to initiate legal action to remove asylum seekers from hotels within their regions. This decision comes after the British High Court ruled on Tuesday that a hotel in North London could temporarily refuse accommodation to migrants.
The judge presiding over the case sided with Epping Forest District Council, agreeing that The Bell hotel in the town posed a public safety risk as it no longer functioned as a genuine hotel.
The UK government utilized The Bell to accommodate undocumented migrants while their asylum applications were being processed. As of last month, approximately 140 men resided in the hotel.
Protests broke out in Epping in July following charges against a migrant residing at The Bell, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl—a claim he denies.
Reform UK, known for its anti-immigrant stance, along with certain Conservative lawmakers, have expressed their support for the protests and have centered asylum hotels as a key issue in their campaign.
The Israeli military has announced that it is mobilizing approximately 60,000 reservists in preparation for a ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying the entirety of Gaza City.
A military official stated that the reservists would begin their duties in September, and most of the troops mobilized for the offensive would consist of active-duty personnel.
They also mentioned that troops were already active in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas as part of the plan’s preparations. This plan, approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday, is scheduled to be presented to the security cabinet later this week.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City are anticipated to receive orders to evacuate and move toward shelters located in southern Gaza.
Numerous allies of Israel have criticized the proposal, with French President Emmanuel Macron cautioning on Wednesday that it “can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that additional displacement and escalating hostilities “risk exacerbating an already dire situation” for Gaza’s population of 2.1 million people.
The Israeli government declared its plan to take control of the entire Gaza Strip following the collapse of indirect negotiations with Hamas regarding a ceasefire and hostage release agreement last month.
Qatar and Egypt, acting as mediators, are working to secure an agreement before the onset of the offensive. They have introduced a new proposal for a 60-day truce that includes releasing approximately half of the 50 hostages held in Gaza. Hamas announced its acceptance of this proposal on Monday.
Israel has not provided a formal response yet, but on Tuesday, Israeli officials emphasized that they would no longer agree to a partial deal. They demanded a comprehensive agreement that ensures the release of all hostages. It is believed that only 20 hostages remain alive.
