Islam Times - Israel chief of staff approves expansion of Gaza operation

Islam Times - Israeli Chief of the General Staff Benny Gantz has approved the expansion of Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip, Israeli TV says.

The decision was made after the regime called up about 75,000 army reservists amid increasing signs that Tel Aviv is preparing for a full ground invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip.

The military “is gearing towards a calling in reserve forces ahead of a ground operation in the Gaza Strip,” army spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai said. “The Military Intelligence continues to make efforts to discern additional targets.”

“We're going to significantly aggravate the operation,” an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Ynet news site on Friday.

Late on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also held a four-hour emergency meeting with a number of senior ministers in Tel Aviv on widening the military offensive on Gaza.

At least 11 Palestinians were killed on Saturday in Israeli attacks on the village of Jebaliya in northern Gaza, southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah and the central district of Mughazi. Five were killed in Rafah.

More than 41 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli airstrikes against the besieged territory began on Wednesday.