Israel to Double Army Reservists in Gaza to Boost Campaign

Israeli soldiers look at destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip, on the border in Israel. — Israeli soldiers look at destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip, on the border in Israel.
Photographer: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

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By Galit Altstein and Dan Williams

August 20, 2025 at 2:55 AM EDT

Updated on

August 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM EDT

Israel’s military is calling up about 60,000 more reserve soldiers to join the war against Hamas in Gaza, a sign that preparations are underway for a stepped up offensive despite ongoing talks about a ceasefire.

The fresh intake will join a further 20,000 serving reservists who will be ordered to extend their current deployment, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Wednesday. That will increase the number in or around Gaza to about 120,000, close to double the current figure, a military official told reporters earlier.