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JERUSALEM /ISTANBUL

The Israeli government is set to approve on Monday an increase of 50,000 reservists, raising the total to 450,000, as part of efforts to expand its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media said.

“The government will approve today in Jerusalem's City of David an increase in the Israeli army's reserve force recruitment cap as part of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots’,” Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said.

“The quota, which currently stands at 400,000 reserve soldiers, will increase to 450,000 and will be approved until August 31, 2025.”

The daily said the increase will allow for the continued service of reserve soldiers, who are currently in active reserve duty and are required for continued combat operations and operational activities until their release date.

Israeli activists condemned the expected increase in the reserve force, calling for the departure of the Benjamin Netanyahu government.

“We demand an end to Netanyahu’s war, which serves a government of religious draft evaders,” said Ayelet Hashachar Saidof, one of the founders of the Mothers on the Front Line group.

Israeli media earlier reported that the army had already begun calling up tens of thousands of reservists over a week ago to participate in the ongoing war in Gaza.

On May 4, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Operation Gideon's Chariots, which includes the full evacuation of northern Gaza and occupying territories inside the enclave.

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.