Israel will call up around 60,000 reservists to support the army’s planned takeover of Gaza City, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Wednesday. The announcement underscores the enormous manpower requirements of holding urbanized areas of the Gaza Strip against Hamas. But, as negotiations for the return of the hostages drag on, Israel may have no other choice.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots II.” The first “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” refers to the Israeli offensive, begun in May, which planned to take and hold approximately 75% of the territory in the Gaza Strip. (The first offensive also involved calling up tens of thousands of reservists.)

The full assault plan involves 12 brigades, complete with infantry, armor, artillery, and combat engineers, as well as two brigades normally assigned to guard the Gaza border, whose ordinary posts will be filled with reservists. These 14 brigades will be organized into five divisions, which will each contain tens of thousands of troops.

The IDF are wasting no time with the new offensive. Even before reserve troops have been activated and deployed, the forces already in Gaza are making the first moves. “We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City. IDF forces are already holding the outskirts of Gaza City,” IDF spokesman Effie Defrin announced Wednesday.

Israel planned to call these reservists in waves, with 40,000 to 50,000 activated on September 2, while others would be activated in November/December, and still more in February/March.

Even still, the deployment of these reservists is an extraordinary use of manpower for Israel. For a country of just under 10 million people, 50,000 reservists constitute a full 0.5% of the population. These reservists join tens of thousands of other reservists already in Gaza, besides the regular army. The IDF plans to extend the tour of duty for 20,000 reservists by another 30 to 40 days.

Yet, even with these extraordinary actions, Israel’s military manpower is stretched to the limit. Its manpower shortage is estimated to be between 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers. This manpower shortage has created tensions with the ultra-orthodox Haredi community within Israel, which objects to military service on religious grounds. The IDF has taken to appealing to “Jewish communities abroad” for additional recruits.

Such a large activation of Israeli reservists, amid such critical manpower shortages, signal Israel’s intention to fight its way through Gaza as thoroughly and as quickly as possible, in hopes of rescuing the remaining hostages, of whom just over 20 are still believed to be alive.

On Monday, reports surfaced that Hamas — after much arm-twisting by Egypt and Qatar — accepted terms for a 60-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which would involve the release of 10 living hostages. Israel’s decision to activate 50,000 reservists only two weeks later suggests it either does not believe the ceasefire is imminent or hopes to capture all of Gaza City before it can be finalized.