Palestinians in Khan Younis expressed their frustration on Wednesday (August 20) about Israel calling up tens of thousands of reservists before new Gaza offensive.

"This is very, very, very catastrophic news," commented Palestinian Mohammed al-Fadi, who said he was hoping for some news about a truce instead.

Israel's military called up tens of thousands of reservists on Wednesday in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

The call-up signals Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to take control of Gaza's biggest urban hub despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians.

But a military official briefing reporters said reserve soldiers would not report for duty until September, a move that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel over ceasefire terms.

The official said that as part of planning for a new offensive in Gaza there would be five divisions operating in the enclave but most reservists were not expected to serve in combat in Gaza City.

Israel’s security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a plan this month to expand the campaign in Gaza, with the aim of seizing Gaza City.

Many of Israel’s closest allies have urged the government to reconsider but Netanyahu is under pressure from some far-right members of his coalition to reject a temporary ceasefire, continue the war and pursue the annexation of Gaza.

The war began on October 7, 2023 when gunmen led by Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and taking 251 hostages into Gaza.

Over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's campaign, according to Gaza health officials, who do not say how many were militants but have said most of those killed have been women and children.

Hamas has accepted a proposal put forward by Arab mediators for a 60-day ceasefire that would involve releasing some of the hostages and freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The Israeli government, which has said all the 50 remaining hostages must be released at once, is studying the proposal. Israeli authorities believe that 20 hostages are still alive.

Many Gazans and foreign leaders fear an assault on Gaza City would cause significant casualties. Israel says it will help civilians leave battle zones before any assault begins.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

'This is very catastrophic news' - Gazans comment on Israel calling up tens of thousands of reservists

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION AND PEOPLE IN KHAN YOUNIS / COMMENTS FROM PALESTINIANS

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT.

SHOWS: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (AUGUST 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION

2. PALESTINIAN WALKING NEXT TO MAKESHIFT TENTS

3. DESTRUCTION AND RUBBLE ON ROADSIDE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN, MOHAMMED AL-FADI, SAYING:

“Gaza Strip can’t handle. We are tired of displacement, every day from a place to another. We may be expecting to hear today there is maybe a truce, everyone was saying that there will be a truce, we also thought that there will be a truce, but waking up to the news that 50,000 soldiers are entering the Gaza Strip [referring to the news that an Israeli military official said Israel to call up 50,000 reservists before Gaza City offensive], this is very, very, very catastrophic news."

5. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREETS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN, MOHAMMED AL-FADI, SAYING:

“This is all a displacement system. We don’t know where to go, there’s no place for us to go to anyway. We are two million people, where do we go? No place is left, not Mawasi nor any other place for us to go to. We are not staying in our homes, we are staying in tents, we are displaced and we don’t know where to go.”

8. VARIOUS OF A PALESTINIAN FIXING ITEMS ON HIS STROLL

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN, AHMAD AL-FARRA, SAYING:

“I am telling you, 50,000 (Israelis) are concerned with occupying Gaza and destroying the Palestinian people, the complete destruction of the Gaza Strip. It doesn’t matter who they belong to or so, the goal is the Gaza Strip, the people of the Gaza Strip and their displacement.”

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREETS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN, AHMAD AL-FARRA SAYING:

"We are now in a phase where we're listening and hoping for a truce, for a deal to be agreed on and end all this. We are now suffering more than before, our youth in these current conditions are being martyred every day in dozens, no one cares about us. People, we just want this humiliation to end, this war has eaten into us, we are a people who can’t handle anymore."

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING NEAR NASSER HOSPITAL

13. AMBULANCE DRIVING