With the IDF’s latest pushes in southern Gaza and northern Gaza, it is close to controlling 30% of the Gaza Strip, defense sources said Wednesday.
Division 36 finally started to take a full hand in the invasion, focusing on northern Rafah in southern Gaza. Its activities added to other divisions already active in Gaza since mid-March, including Division 252 in northern and central Gaza and Division 143 in southern Rafah.
The latest IDF maneuvers could eventually cut off Rafah from Khan Yunis.
Despite the expanded areas of operation, defense sources have said they are continuing to avoid operating in areas in which hostages might be held.
Furthermore, defense sources said even as the growing invasion with three divisions has required some new rounds of reservist call-ups, the government still will not need to order a very large reservist call-up wave unless it engages in a much larger invasion of Gaza.
IDF operations in Rafah
Defense sources threatened that if Hamas did not agree to a new hostage deal soon, a much larger invasion could be ordered within a period of days or weeks.
Nevertheless, Defense Minister Israel Katz deflected any questions from The Jerusalem Post that suggested Israel was moving toward a slow military occupation of Gaza.
Instead, the focus of the operation was still achieving a hostage deal, he said, declining to speculate about whether Hamas could or would try to outlast Israel’s latest military assault for several more months.
Defense sources disputed widespread reports that if there is be a larger reservist call-up, half of the forces would refuse to serve over the government’s recent actions, such as not continuing the ceasefire to bring back more hostages, undermining the legal establishment, and trying to replace Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director Ronen Bar.
In addition, defense sources disputed the notion that the more Gazan territory the IDF tries to hold onto, which requires more stationary forces, losses in the field would start to spike.