From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
IDF says tens of thousands of troops to take part in Gaza City conquest, medical facilities to be expanded in south Gaza
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Five IDF divisions, made up of tens of thousands of troops, are set to participate in the military’s planned offensive against Hamas in Gaza City, according to the army.
The forces include 12 brigade-level teams, each of which has infantry, armored, artillery, and combat engineering forces, along with combat support. In addition, the Gaza Division’s northern and southern brigades — normally tasked with the border — are set to participate in the offensive, bringing the total number of brigade-level teams to 14.
The military says the preparation phases for the offensive, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots B,” have already begun, with an ongoing offensive on the outskirts of Gaza City. The Nahal Infantry Brigade and 7th Armored Brigade have been operating in the Zeitoun neighborhood, and the Givati Infantry Brigade began a new offensive in the Kafr Jabalia area, north of the city.
In addition, the IDF says efforts to set up humanitarian infrastructure in the Strip’s south for the estimated one million Palestinian civilians who are set to be displaced from Gaza City have also started.
The military says more aid distribution sites and at least two more field hospitals are set to be established. The European Hospital in Khan Younis, which was closed after the IDF raided a Hamas tunnel running underneath it, is also slated to resume operations.
“As part of the preparations to move the population from Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip, talks have begun with international organizations to recruit them to establish additional field hospitals in the south, and there is a positive response to this,” a security official says.
The official says “there are also plans to expand the existing medical infrastructure in the south in cooperation with the organizations, and in addition, options are being examined to open access routes to additional medical facilities.”
“The UN and the organizations have begun formulating a plan to restart the European Hospital as an additional medical response,” the official adds.
The IDF’s offensive in Gaza City is set to be carried out in several stages, beginning with an evacuation warning for the civilians in the area. The IDF will then encircle Gaza City before pushing in deeper into the city, including reaching areas that were previously not completely cleared of Hamas infrastructure.
The plans, approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz last night, are set to be presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tomorrow.
In terms of reservists, a total of 60,000 reserve soldiers are being called up, in several waves. The majority — around 40,000-50,000 — will be ordered to show up for duty on September 2. Another wave will take place in November-December, and a third wave in February-March 2026.
The IDF is also extending reserve duty for many reservists who are currently on duty by 30-40 days. This will bring the total number of reservists at a given time during the offensive to around 130,000.
The reservists include three brigades and several more battalions, and many combat support soldiers, including in intelligence and logistics.
Not all of the reservists are expected to participate in the operation to capture Gaza City, as some will instead be replacing standing army troops on other fronts.
The Times of Israel Community.