Israel began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists Tuesday to expand its offensive in Gaza City, amid domestic opposition and international criticism.

Ground and air operations targeted northern and central Gaza, including Zeitoun and Shijaiyah neighborhoods, repeatedly hit during the 23-month conflict with Hamas. Once a bustling area, Zeitoun has been largely emptied and reduced to rubble, now considered a “dangerous combat zone” by Israel’s military.

Gaza City, Hamas’ political and military hub, still hosts extensive tunnel networks and hundreds of thousands of civilians facing both combat and famine. Israel plans to call up at least 60,000 reservists while extending the service of 20,000 already deployed.

Criticism of the war is growing in Israel, with movements encouraging reservists to refuse service, though the impact of the latest call-up remains unclear.

Malnutrition deaths in Gaza are rising, with 185 reported in August, the Health Ministry said. The ministry also reports 63,557 deaths and 160,660 injuries since the war began, with roughly half of the dead being women and children. The figures are widely cited by U.N. agencies as the most reliable estimates.

The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Forty-eight remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed alive, according to Israel.