Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the military to shorten the timeline for the defeat of Hamas

The Israeli military has begun "the first stages" of an operation to take over Gaza City, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to seize the city in order to achieve full Israeli control of Gaza was approved by the security cabinet two weeks ago.

IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said on Wednesday that Israeli forces are already "holding the outskirts of Gaza City" and will "deepen" attacks on Palestinian armed group Hamas in the densely populated area.

Netanyahu later said he has ordered the military to "shorten the timelines for seizing the last terror strongholds and for the defeat of Hamas."

The IDF is expected to present its plan for the capture of Gaza City to the prime minister on Thursday, military sources have told local media. Earlier this week, the IDF announced it would be calling up another 60,000 reservists ahead of the operation.

Reports have also claimed that West Jerusalem has decided not to respond to Monday's proposal by Hamas, which includes the release of ten Israeli hostages and a 60-day ceasefire. The offer was based on the framework by US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to the group.

Hamas said "the start of an operation against Gaza City and its nearly one million residents and displaced persons... demonstrates... a blatant disregard for the efforts made by the mediators."

On Wednesday, three IDF troops were wounded, including one severely, after 15 Hamas fighters emerged from tunnels and attacked them with firearms and anti-tank missiles near Khan Younis, south of Gaza City.

The conflict in Gaza began after an incursion by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage. Around 50 of them remain in captivity. According to Gaza's health ministry, more than 62,000 people have been killed and around 156,000 wounded in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave since then.

(RT.com)