News- Middle East: Hamas has destroyed an Israeli tank in Gaza as Israel’s military chief approved a large-scale plan to capture Gaza City, including the mobilization of up to 100,000 reservists.

Using the al-Yassin 105, a domestically developed anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, destroyed an Israeli tank and a military bulldozer in the southern part of the al-Zaytoun area in Gaza City on Thursday.

Earlier, the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, had broadcast images of their fighters carrying out mortar attacks — in cooperation with forces from the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades and the Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades — against the forces of the occupying regime’s military and their advancing vehicles to the east of Gaza.

Separately on Thursday, local Israeli media reported that Israel’s military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, approved a “core concept for capturing” Gaza City, following authorization from the regime’s security cabinet.

The approval reportedly came after consultations with the General Staff Forum, Shin Bet representatives, and other senior commanders.

The proposed operation would involve the emergency mobilization of between 80,000 and 100,000 reservists, signaling preparations for a large-scale reoccupation effort in Gaza.

Last week, Israel’s so-called security cabinet approved prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza City, drawing sharp international backlash from governments and human rights bodies.

The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said the decision to issue thousands of call-up orders came after Zamir approved “the main framework” for the Gaza City occupation plan.

Further discussions will be held in the upcoming days regarding the details and timetable of the operation, which is expected to last until the end of 2026, according to the daily.

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,700 people since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former war 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 on the enclave.

Source: Press TV