Tel aviv: The Israeli occupation army is preparing, starting Thursday, to send approximately 60,000 call-up orders to reserve soldiers to occupy Gaza City.

According to Qatar News Agency, this move follows the approval of a military plan by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, titled "Gideon 2," aimed at occupying the city. The decision came after consultations with senior Israeli military and security officials, following a directive issued by the Security Cabinet.

The occupation army has also decided to extend the service of 20,000 additional soldiers for 40 more days. All call-up orders are expected to be dispatched tomorrow, with enlistment dates set for early September, around two weeks away.

Earlier this week, Israeli Army Chief Eyal Zamir outlined the operational phases of the plan, which include reinforcing Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip as a preparatory step for the occupation of Gaza City. The plan is based on a decision made on August 8, which involves Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for a gradual reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City.

The strategy also entails displacing approximately one million Palestinian citizens from the city to the southern Gaza Strip before encircling it and initiating incursions into residential areas.

On August 11, the Israeli army commenced the first phase of its Gaza occupation with a large-scale attack on the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City. The attack involved the use of remote explosive robots to demolish homes, artillery shelling, random firing, and forced displacement operations.

The decision to occupy the Gaza Strip has sparked widespread international condemnation. Germany announced a ban on arms exports to Israel, while British and French newspapers have called for comprehensive sanctions against the nation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the decision, stating that escalating the offensive in Gaza is wrong and urged the Israeli government to reconsider immediately.

Starmer highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire. The conflict has resulted in the martyrdom of 62,064 Palestinians, injuries to 156,573 people, most of them women and children, and over 11,000 missing persons. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and a famine has claimed the lives of 266 citizens, including 112 children.