Israel is mobilising tens of thousands of reservists for an expanded Gaza offensive, Israeli media reported Saturday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Qatar’s mediation role. The recent move, amid stalled ceasefire talks and a distressing Hamas hostage video, escalates tensions, with 52,495 Palestinians reported killed since October 2023.
Israeli news outlets reported that the military issued call-up orders for reservists to replace active-duty soldiers, enabling redeployment to Gaza. A military spokesperson did not confirm the reports, but AFP journalists’ relatives received mobilisation orders. The security cabinet will meet on Sunday to approve the offensive’s expansion, following Israel’s resumed operations on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire faltered.
10s of 1,000s of IDF reservists called up for Gaza offensive expansion
Military plan authorized by Netanyahu could get vote of approval Sunday
Reservists might be sent to other fronts — Lebanon, Syria & West Bank — The Times of Israel
Think this war has any end in sight? pic.twitter.com/pwFEORKgVP
— RT (@RT_com) May 3, 2025Since March 2, Israel has blocked all aid to Gaza, prompting UN warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. The Gaza Health Ministry reported 2,396 deaths since the campaign’s restart, with a total war toll of 52,495.
Netanyahu’s Qatar Critique and Hamas Hostage Video
Netanyahu accused Qatar, a key truce mediator alongside the US and Egypt, of “playing both sides” in a post on X, urging it to choose between “civilization” or “Hamas barbarism.” Qatar’s Majed al-Ansari called the remarks “inflammatory,” lacking political responsibility. Facing pressure from far-right coalition allies, Netanyahu vowed to continue the “just war.”
Hamas released a video of wounded Israeli-Russian hostage Maxim Herkin, urging Israel to secure the release of 58 remaining captives, 34 presumed dead. An overnight Israeli strike in Khan Yunis killed 11 Palestinians, including three infants, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported, highlighting the conflict’s devastating toll.
Read: 70 Palestinians Killed in Gaza as Israel’s Blockade Fuels Starvation Crisis
Israel’s reservist call-up and Netanyahu’s sharp rhetoric against Qatar signal a deepening Gaza offensive, overshadowing ceasefire hopes. With 11 Palestinians killed in a recent strike and a hostage video amplifying urgency, the conflict’s human cost mounts. International efforts are crucial to avert further disaster and secure peace.
