UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, warning that Israel’s planned operation to seize Gaza City would result in severe civilian casualties. His remarks came as Israeli forces began preparatory actions on the city’s outskirts, and the government authorized the call-up of tens of thousands of reservists.
Speaking from Japan, where he is attending a conference on African development, Guterres said, “It is essential to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to avoid the death and destruction resulting from any military operation targeting the city.” He also pressed Hamas to release hostages unconditionally and criticized Israel’s decision to expand settlements in the West Bank, calling them “illegal.”
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The appeal followed Israel’s announcement of a new operational phase aimed at Gaza City, which the military describes as Hamas’s central stronghold. Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the plan earlier in the day, including the mobilization of roughly 60,000 reservists and humanitarian preparations for civilian evacuation. “We will move to a new phase of fighting, a precise and focused gradual operation inside and around the city of Gaza,” an army spokesperson said.
By evening, military spokesperson Ivi Devrin confirmed that Israeli forces had already started initial actions to secure positions outside the city. For more than a week, the army has been carrying out heavy strikes in strategic areas of Gaza.
The escalation comes as Israel weighs its formal response to a ceasefire initiative promoted by international mediators. Earlier this month, the security cabinet approved a broader plan to capture Gaza City, part of a campaign now entering its most decisive stage after nearly two years of war.