Military mobilization in Israel as fresh Gaza aggression is initiated
In the northern part of Gaza, a city that has become one of the last remaining sanctuaries for hundreds of thousands of civilians, the twin threats of combat and famine loom large. The city, which has seen a surge in population due to the ongoing conflict, faces a dire situation as the world grapples with the escalating crisis.
Amidst this turmoil, a group called Soldiers for the Hostages, comprising over 365 soldiers, has pledged not to report for duty if called up again. The group's stance is a response to the ongoing military conflict and the hostage situation, with only about 20 of the 251 civilians abducted by Hamas in October 2023 having been released so far. The remaining hostages, numbering around 47 to 48, are still held captive in Gaza, with Israeli sources estimating that approximately 27 of them may have perished.
The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government but staffed by medical professionals, is considered to have the most reliable estimate of war casualties by UN agencies and many independent experts. As of Tuesday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported a total of 63,633 Palestinians killed in the war, with another 160,914 wounded. The ministry also reported 185 deaths due to malnutrition in August, marking the highest count in months. Since the World's leading authority on food crises declared that Gaza City was experiencing famine, malnutrition-related deaths have mounted.
Israel has mobilized tens of thousands of reservists for a widened offensive in Gaza City. The offensive, which has seen repeated invasions of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah, two western Gaza City neighborhoods, has transformed Zeitoun, once Gaza City's largest neighborhood, into a "dangerous combat zone" over the past month. A strike on a residential building in Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood killed 15 people, including at least three children.
Criticism over the war in Gaza is growing, with Max Kresch, a member of Soldiers for the Hostages, stating that the ongoing war of aggression endangers Israeli hostages and has caused havoc on Israeli society. The Israeli forces consider Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, despite multiple incursions throughout the war.
Meanwhile, the call-up of reservists was announced last month. Refusing to show up for reserve duty can result in prison time, but only a handful of reserve soldiers who have refused to serve have been put in military imprisonment during the war.
Israel disputes the casualty figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry but hasn't provided its own toll. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza City continue to evoke international concern and calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
