Israel intensifying military buildup ahead of planned offensive to capture Gaza City

Israel has been intensifying its troop buildup ahead of the planned offensive to capture Gaza City, news Agency AFP has reported. 

Israeli media reported that reservists have begun responding to call-up orders, despite mounting pressure to end its campaign in the Palestinian territory.

Israeli forces have been preparing for an offensive to capture Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory, intensifying bombardments in the area in recent days. 

Gaza's civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal has said that Israeli warplanes hit a residential building in southwestern Gaza City, killing 10 people. Bassal also said that Israeli helicopters struck an apartment in the west of the city, killing three and wounding several others.

Famine was officially declared in Gaza last month by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the UN-backed global hunger monitor. Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have closed Gaza's border crossings, pushing the territory’s 2.4 million population into famine.