The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday approved an extension of legislation allowing the emergency call-up of IDF reservists.
The lawmakers authorized Defense Minister Israel Katz’s proposal to allow the Israel Defense Forces to call up additional reservists under Section 8 of the Reserve Service Law, 2008, through midnight on June 26.
The committee held a confidential discussion during which Knesset members received a security and intelligence briefing regarding the fighting in Gaza, after which they were asked to back Katz’s proposal.
Nine MKs voted in favor, while seven committee members opposed the further emergency call-up of soldiers by the IDF, according to the Knesset website.
The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee had previously approved the issuing of Tzav 8 (“Section 8”) emergency orders by the IDF through May 29.
Israeli soldiers continue to operate—under the direction of the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet—against terrorist groups in Gaza as part of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” the IDF said on Sunday.
The offensive, launched on May 16, is a wide-scale IDF campaign targeting remaining Hamas and Islamic Jihad strongholds.
The campaign aims to establish lasting security control throughout the entire Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 21.