Israel intensified its military build-up on Tuesday as reservists began responding to call-up orders ahead of a planned offensive to capture Gaza City, nearly two years into a devastating war.

Despite mounting pressure at home and abroad to end its campaign in the Palestinian territory, Israel is gearing up to seize Gaza's largest city -- intensifying bombardments and operating in the outskirts in recent days.

The United Nations estimates that nearly a million people live in Gaza City and its surroundings, where a famine has been declared.

In a statement, the military said it had been preparing in recent days "ahead of expanded combat operations and the large-scale mobilisation of reservists".

Speaking at an event in Jerusalem, Defence Minister Israel Katz said: "Tens of thousands of reservists have left their homes, families and jobs to once again answer the national call -- the return of all hostages and the neutralisation of Hamas."

Approving the military's plans for the conquest of Gaza City in late August, Katz said he had authorised the call-up of about 60,000 reservists.

Israeli media reported that some 40,000 reservists were........

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