Israel Deploys 300 Thousand Reserve Soldiers And Moves 35 Brigades To Borders, Observers Predict Land Attacks On Gaza

Israel's tank illustration is on standby. (Wikimedia Commons/IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

JAKARTA - Israel is expected to launch a massive ground offensive on Gaza, as the country has summoned hundreds of thousands of reserve troops and transferred its troops to the border.

Israel's chief military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Badhi said Israel had deployed 300,000 reserve troops in response to the Hamas attack last weekend.

Badminton said 300,000 reserve troops had been called up by the military since Saturday, suggesting preparations for a possible invasion of Gaza, although the plan has not been officially confirmed.

"We've never compiled so many reserves on a scale like this," he said.

"We will carry out attacks," he said.

Meanwhile, Middle Eastern observer Faisal Assegaf said the possibility of an Israeli attack on Gaza was possible, especially since the Hamas and Islamic Jihad attacks last Saturday were deemed to have cast a great disgrace on Israel.

"Yes, because PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have stated that they will destroy Hamas and Islamic Jihad," he told VOI.

Meanwhile, military analyst for Jerusalem Post Yonah Jeremy Bob said the plan for this ground attack could be greater than the 2014 Israeli invasion.

"There will be a second action and it is an invasion of Gaza, and I think it is bigger than 2014 when Israel summoned 80,000 reserve troops. Israel has four reserve divisions that have been called up and have moved 35 brigades to the border," he explained as quoted by Al Jazeera.

"In a day or two, Israel will have great power capable of defeating Hamas forces in Gaza," continued Bob.

Since Saturday's surprise attack, Israeli aircraft have hit targets in Gaza, while their ground forces are struggling to regain control of the villages and border towns controlled by Palestinian gunmen.