Tens of thousands of reservists set to be drafted today, but turnout down

Tens of thousands of reservists are set to be drafted today, in the largest call-up since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, Kan and Channel 12 report.

Kan says the call-up, the first phase of a wider draft for the planned conquest of Gaza City, is facing challenges as fewer reservists are inclined to report for duty after nearly two years of war and repeat rounds of service.

According to Hebrew media outlets, many reservists have requested exemptions for personal or financial reasons, and units are seeing lower turnout than in previous emergency call-ups. Senior officers note that even within regular battalions, company and platoon sizes have shrunk, while a significant portion of the reservists reporting are volunteers who are not organically part of the units.

The reservists are set to undergo training and preparation in the coming days, with some slated to replace regular forces stationed in Israel’s north and the West Bank. The IDF plans to eventually deploy four divisions into Gaza City.

The new military campaign in Gaza was initially estimated to last four to five months, though officials reportedly say civilian evacuations and the operational buildup are already taking longer than anticipated.

Despite senior sources claiming operational control over some 40% of Gaza City, IDF officials tell Channel 12 that this assessment is “disconnected from reality,” with many commanders remaining skeptical about the feasibility of achieving the operation’s ultimate objectives of securing the release of the 48 hostages and dismantling the remaining Hamas strongholds in the area.