Troops have reached the city’s outskirts, an Israeli official said, adding that more reservists are being asked to report for duty to cover for other soldiers who will be involved in going into Gaza City.

Israel's security cabinet has approved plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Israeli military to occupy Gaza City, in an expansion of military operations that comes amid international condemnation of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government activated tens of thousands of reservists in its military ahead of a planned operation to take control of Gaza City. Approximately 60,000 reserve members of the Israel Defense Forces were called up.