August 20, 2025 | 09:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the plan to occupy Gaza City on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, and has authorized the call-up of about 60,000 reserve troops. This increases pressure on Hamas as the mediators urge for a ceasefire.
Israel Katz's move comes as Egyptian and Qatari mediators are awaiting Israel's official response to their latest proposal. Although Qatar cautiously expressed optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Israeli official stated that the government remains firm in its call for the release of all hostages in any agreement.
Broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the Israeli forces have issued an emergency order called "Order 8" to the reserve army to carry out the operation to occupy Gaza City.
The report mentioned that tens of thousands of reserve troops are expected to be called up in the coming days. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also extended the service period of the current reserve soldiers.
The media added, "This new military move is a preparation for the potential occupation of Gaza City," noting that "the Israeli army is currently making all final preparations to implement the plan to occupy Gaza City."
Channel 12 emphasized that "negotiations on the prisoner exchange with Hamas are likely to take place amid the attack, and the Israeli military will not stop until an agreement is reached and signed."
On Tuesday morning, Zamir outlined the invasion plan, including boosting the strength of the Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.
On August 8, the Israeli cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to gradually retake the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City.
The plan includes relocating about 1 million Palestinian residents from Gaza City to the south, followed by the siege of the city and an assault on the settlements.
As part of this effort, the army launched a massive attack on August 11 in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, according to eyewitnesses to Anadolu.
The attack included the destruction of houses with trap robots, artillery fire, random gunfire, and forced displacement.
The framework agreed by Hamas proposed an initial 60-day ceasefire, gradual release of hostages, the release of some Palestinian prisoners, and provisions allowing aid to enter Gaza.
Israel and Hamas have engaged in indirect negotiations occasionally during the wars, resulting in two brief ceasefires in which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war, 49 are still in Gaza, including 27 who, according to the Israeli military, have been killed.
Sources from Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad, stated on Wednesday that the latest proposal includes the release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies from Gaza.
The remaining prisoners will be released in the second stage, with negotiations for a broader settlement.
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