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.

The call-up comes as a growing campaign of exhausted reservists is accusing the government of perpetuating the war for political reasons

The Israeli military said it had called up an additional 60,000 reservists and extended the service of 20,000 "as part of the next phase" of Israel's military operation in Gaza.