Thousands of reservists have begun reporting for duty as the Israeli military presses ahead with its offensive to conquer Gaza City.
Ground forces are already pushing into the outskirts of Gaza's largest urban area, which the military has said is a stronghold of Hamas.
The city is also coming under heavy Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment, with local hospitals saying that more than 50 Palestinians have been killed there since midnight.
The military has ordered residents to evacuate and head south immediately. The UN says an estimated 20,000 have done so over the past two weeks, but almost a million remain.
UN humanitarian officials have warned that the impact of a full-blown offensive would be 'beyond catastrophic', not only for those in the city but for the entire Gaza Strip.
Last month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 60,000 reservists would be called up ahead of 'Operation Gideon's Chariots II' – the next phase of the ground offensive that it launched in May and has seen it take control of at least 75% of Gaza.
Israeli media reports suggest many of the reservists may be deployed to the occupied West Bank and northern Israel to free up active-duty personnel for the offensive. However, it has been noted that some combat units are experiencing lower turnout compared to previous call-ups.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would aim for the complete conquest of Gaza following the breakdown of ceasefire talks with Hamas in July. The armed group is currently holding 48 hostages, with families voicing concerns that a new offensive could endanger their loved ones.
Israeli Defense Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, addressing reservists, highlighted that the IDF is preparing for nothing less than 'decisive victory' and will not halt operations until they achieve complete destruction of Hamas.
Amid rising strikes in Gaza, hospital officials reported at least 95 Palestinians killed since midnight on Tuesday, with conditions worsening significantly for the displaced.
