Milan, 20 August. (LaPresse) – Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has approved the army's offensive plans for the operation in Gaza City. The plans were presented to him last night by the army chief of staff (IDF), Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and other senior officers. The offensive has been dubbed “Gideon's Chariots B”, as a continuation of the previous operation of the same name, in which the IDF took control of 75% of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure Hamas into agreeing to release hostages. A security source quoted by The Times of Israel said Katz praised the IDF's plan and preparations during the meeting, which took place after the government ordered the army to take Gaza City. The IDF then issued some 60,000 call-up orders for reservists for the offensive. The Israeli defence minister also approved “humanitarian preparations” for the estimated one million Palestinian civilians who will be displaced from Gaza City to the south of the Strip.
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