Israel pounds Gaza City

ISRAEL hammered Gaza City and its outskirts overnight, residents said yesterday, as the military announced it had taken initial steps in its push to capture Hamas’ last major stronghold.

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The newly approved plan authorises the call-up of roughly 60 000 reservists, deepening fears the campaign will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

“We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF (army) troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,’ said the Israeli military.

Israel’s plans to expand the fighting and seize Gaza City have sparked international outcry as well as domestic opposition. The Red Cross became the latest voice to condemn the plan on Thursday, calling it “intolerable”.

Ahead of the offensive, the Israeli military said the call-up of the reservists would begin in early September, adding the second phase of the so-called operation “Gideon's Chariots” had begun.

Gaza City residents described relentless bombardments overnight.

“The house shakes with us all night long - the sound of explosions, artillery, warplanes, ambulances, and cries for help is killing us,’ one of them, Ahmad al-Shanti, said.

“The sound is getting closer, but where would we go?”