Israel steps up Gaza bombing as it signals ceasefire deal rejection

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz approves plans to occupy Gaza City as 130,000 reservists set to be called up

Palestinians run from the site of Israeli strikes on a six-storey building in the Saftawi neighbourhood, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on 19 August 2025 (Bashar Taleb/AFP)

Palestinians run from the site of Israeli strikes on a six-storey building in the Saftawi neighbourhood, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on 19 August 2025 (Bashar Taleb/AFP)

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Israeli fighter jets intensified air strikes in northern Gaza on Wednesday, as the government approved a plan for the occupation of the strip and signalled its rejection of a ceasefire deal accepted by Hamas.

Overnight raids targeted residential buildings in Jabalia, causing widespread destruction and leaving dozens dead or wounded, according to local reports.

Medical sources said at least 35 Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza Strip since dawn on Wednesday. Among them, at least 10 people were reportedly killed while queuing for aid.

On Tuesday evening, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz approved the latest plans to occupy Gaza City, presented by the military's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, and its high command.

The escalation comes as Israeli Army Radio reported that the initial phase of the occupation has begun in the Zeitoun and Jabalia neighbourhoods in northern Gaza.

According to Haaretz, recruitment of approximately 60,000 reservists began on Wednesday, with military officials indicating that up to 130,000 could be called up as part of the occupation effort.

While Israeli officials claim the plan aims to dismantle Hamas, shelling in recent days has reportedly destroyed 400 homes in the Zeitoun neighbourhood alone.

Mixed signals on ceasefire

Meanwhile, Israeli officials have signalled the rejection of a ceasefire proposal that Hamas accepted earlier this week.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told the BBC in an interview that they were not interested in "partial deals".

Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal set out by mediators, sources say

"Things have changed now. The prime minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza," Mencer added.

The proposal accepted by the Palestinian movement earlier this week - barring some minor details - is the same as the one that had been accepted on 1 June before both the Israelis and the Americans withdrew their teams from talks in Doha.

While Israel is on the verge of a military occupation of Gaza City - and a possible complete takeover of the strip - the Kan public broadcaster said on Monday that the war cabinet is not ruling out the possibility of this deal taking hold, and that there are "positive" signs.

Netanyahu issued cryptic remarks in a video on Monday appearing to address Hamas' statement that it had agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.

"I, like you, hear the reports in the media, and from them you can get one impression - Hamas is under immense pressure," he said.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Hamas must be "confronted and destroyed" in order for the captives to be retrieved from Gaza, effectively backing Netanyahu and his far-right government's latest offensive to fully occupy Gaza.

Israel's genocide in Gaza

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Israel steps up Gaza bombing as it signals ceasefire deal rejection

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