Israel is stepping up efforts to take over Gaza City this month, calling up tens of thousands of army reservists and planning to order 1 million Palestinians from their homes, despite widespread global opposition.
While global outcry soars at the war’s toll on Palestinian civilians and a recent United Nations body’s declaration of famine in the enclave, opposition is also growing within Israel, where the strain on the military has compounded concern that troops, as well as hostages, will be endangered. Soldiers are already operating on the Gaza City periphery, but they will storm its center in mid-September, according to an Israeli official who requested anonymity discussing military strategy.