The planned takeover and control of the largest city in northern Gaza, deemed by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as one of the final bastions of Hamas, necessitates deploying an additional 60,000 reserve troops and extending the service of 20,000 others.

The Israeli military is already positioned near Gaza City, as stated by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Brigadier-General Effie Defrin on Wednesday, marking the initial phase of the broader operation.

‘A death sentence for the hostages’

Avshalom Zohar Sal has completed over 300 days in Gaza through four different tours. His last deployment concluded just a month ago, and he is now reluctant to return to the front lines, particularly for an operation in Gaza City.

“I’m a little in shock that we’re still talking about this war that was supposed to end a long time ago,” Zohar Sal told CNN.

He says the doubts, that began creeping in a year ago, have only grown stronger and other members of his unit have the same worries as him.

“I think this decision is a death sentence for the hostages,” he said.

“The government repeatedly stated that our objectives in this war were twofold: to retrieve the hostages and to defeat Hamas. Now it seems the focus is on a singular goal, which I believe is unattainable: to destroy Hamas. Even achieving this aim won’t eliminate Hamas.”

Israel’s military consists largely of conscripts, and to continue in what has become the nation’s longest conflict, Israel has to depend heavily on reservists.

But it’s not clear what percentage will answer a new round of calls to serve inside Gaza once again, especially after the military chief warned the operation could endanger the soldiers and the hostages.