By: Fern Sidman

Israel is poised to embark on one of the most extensive reserve call-ups in its history, with the government expected to approve the mobilization of up to 430,000 reservists by November 30, 2025, i24 News reported on Sunday. The decision is aimed at sustaining a major military operation in the Gaza Strip, specifically the planned occupation of Gaza City — an undertaking that military forecasts indicate could extend for at least six months.

According to the information provided in the i24 News report, the mobilization will be central to Israel’s broader military strategy, which has entered a new and more intensive phase nearly two years into the ongoing conflict. The expanded reserve deployment will be crucial for maintaining operational tempo, supporting a large-scale humanitarian evacuation, and securing Gaza City through a protracted ground campaign.

Government legal advisor Gali Baharav-Miara confirmed on Sunday that, despite considerable legal and social challenges — particularly those stemming from the unequal distribution of reserve service obligations among various sectors of Israeli society — the mobilization is unavoidable.

“There is no alternative but to continue mobilizing reservists,” Baharav-Miara stated, according to the i24 News report, emphasizing that the operational demands of the campaign outweigh the legal difficulties. She acknowledged that the expanded call-up will place heavy burdens on certain communities but maintained that national security imperatives leave no other viable option.

Her assessment reflects the government’s view that the next stage of the Gaza operation will require not just additional manpower, but also sustained troop presence for an extended period in one of the most challenging operational environments the IDF has faced in decades.

In parallel with the mobilization, the Israel Defense Forces are finalizing preparations for a sweeping evacuation of Gaza City’s civilian population. As the i24 News report detailed, more than 800,000 residents will be relocated to the Mawasi humanitarian zone in southern Gaza over a six-week period, ahead of the commencement of ground operations.

This unprecedented relocation effort is intended to minimize civilian casualties during the forthcoming military campaign. Israeli planners have outlined a complex, phased evacuation strategy that will rely heavily on coordination with international humanitarian organizations and the creation of secure corridors for movement out of the city.

The humanitarian initiative will be bolstered by a significant increase in aid deliveries. i24 News reported that daily aid truck convoys will expand from 300 to 1,200, while aerial aid drops will be intensified. Additional distribution centers will also be constructed to manage the increased flow of supplies.

Military and humanitarian officials view this dual-track approach — large-scale evacuation coupled with expanded aid — as essential both for operational effectiveness and for mitigating the humanitarian impact of the prolonged campaign.

The mobilization will begin next month, starting with the deployment of the IDF’s 146th and 98th Divisions. In total, six divisions are slated to take part in the Gaza City operation: the 162nd, 36th, 98th, Gaza Division, 99th, and 146th.

According to the information contained in the i24 News report, the operational plan calls for the complete encirclement of Gaza City by October 2025. The city, heavily fortified and riddled with an extensive network of underground tunnels, is considered Hamas’s primary stronghold. IDF planners anticipate sustained urban combat, with divisions rotating to maintain operational stamina and effectiveness over the projected six-month occupation period.

The multi-division approach is designed to ensure flexibility in force allocation, allowing for simultaneous offensive maneuvers, engineering and tunnel-clearing operations, and the maintenance of security perimeters.

The projected six-month timeline is contingent on the outcome of ongoing hostage negotiations. The i24 News report noted that if talks fail to produce an agreement, Israeli security officials expect the occupation to last at least that long, and possibly longer.

Such an extended operation would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, which has already persisted for 22 months since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The prolonged occupation would likely involve not only sustained combat but also the establishment of long-term IDF security zones within and around Gaza City.

i24 News has highlighted the operation’s potential to reshape the military and political dynamics in the Gaza Strip. The anticipated scale of the mobilization — involving nearly half a million reservists — underscores Israel’s commitment to what it sees as a decisive stage of the war.

The IDF’s strategy is expected to integrate intensive intelligence-driven targeting, precision air and artillery support, and the systematic dismantling of Hamas’s defensive infrastructure. Engineering units will play a central role in clearing booby traps, neutralizing explosives, and destroying tunnel systems designed to enable Hamas’s urban warfare tactics.

Military analysts interviewed by i24 News stressed that the operation’s success will hinge not only on the IDF’s ability to dominate the battlefield but also on sustaining logistical support, maintaining troop morale, and managing the political ramifications of such a prolonged deployment.

The expansion of aid deliveries and the planned relocation of Gaza City’s civilian population reflect an effort to balance Israel’s security objectives with humanitarian obligations. By creating the Mawasi humanitarian zone and vastly increasing aid flows, Israel aims to reduce civilian harm while maintaining operational freedom of action.

However, the logistical challenges are considerable. Moving hundreds of thousands of civilians under wartime conditions, ensuring adequate shelter and supplies, and protecting humanitarian corridors from interference will require a level of coordination and security rarely seen in the region’s conflict history.

The report at i24 News noted that the increased aid effort is also intended to counter international criticism and reinforce Israel’s stated commitment to adhering to the laws of armed conflict.

The decision to move forward with the largest reserve mobilization in years signals that Israel is preparing for a protracted and high-intensity phase of the war. The scale of the operation, the complexity of the planned evacuation, and the anticipated length of the occupation all point to a conflict that will remain at the center of Israel’s national security agenda well into 2026.

The coming months will be pivotal. By late 2025, Israel expects to have Gaza City fully encircled, its civilian population relocated, and a multi-division force engaged in systematic operations to dismantle Hamas’s military and governance structures.

The outcome of this campaign will likely shape the broader trajectory of the conflict, influencing not only the security situation in Gaza but also Israel’s regional standing, its domestic political landscape, and its ability to navigate the complex intersection of military necessity, humanitarian responsibility, and international diplomacy.