Israel calls up tens of thousands of reservists for Gaza offensive

Israel was issuing orders to call up tens of thousands of reservists ahead of an expanded offensive in Gaza, Israeli media reported Saturday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked truce mediator Qatar.

Several news outlets reported the army had begun sending the orders for reservists to replace conscripts and active-duty soldiers in Israel and the occupied West Bank so they can be redeployed to Gaza.

A military spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the reports, but relatives of AFP journalists were among those who received mobilisation orders.

According to Israel's public broadcaster, the security cabinet is scheduled to meet on Sunday to approve the expansion of the offensive in Gaza.

Israel resumed bombardment across Gaza on 18 March amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted the war on the Strip.

Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political office, brokered the truce alongside the US and Egypt that came into effect in January. Efforts to secure a new deal, however, have appeared to stall in recent weeks.

Netanyahu accused the gas-rich Gulf state of "playing both sides with its double talk". Posting on X, he said Qatar had to "decide if it's on the side of civilisation or if it's on the side of Hamas barbarism".

The Israeli prime minister, under pressure from his far-right supporters, without whom he would lose his governing coalition, has been increasingly vocal in his calls to continue the war since the restart of the Gaza offensive.

"Israel will win this just war with just means," he added.