Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the military's plans for an offensive to take over Gaza City, Israeli media reported.

The plans for the operation were earlier presented to Katz by the Israel Defense Forces' Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Times of Israel newspaper cited a security source as saying Katz praised the plans for the offensive, dubbed "Gideon's Chariots II."

Gaza City is in the north of the 26-mile coastal enclave and has been devastated by Israeli military strikes over the past 22 months.

Newsweek reached out to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via email for comment.

Some 60,000 reservist call-up orders are being issued by the IDF for the offensive, the Times of Israel reported.

The defense minis

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