An Israeli military official says the country’s top generals have approved plans to call up tens of thousands of reservists in order to begin a new phase of operations in some of Gaza’s most densely populated areas.

Israel’s military is set to start the call-up of around 60,000 reserve soldiers for a stepped up offensive in Gaza against Hamas, according to an Israeli government official, even as it readies a response to a new ceasefire proposal.

Israel will call up 50,000 reservists before a planned offensive to take Gaza City but most forces that would operate in the Gaza Strip's largest urban centre would be active duty soldiers, an Israeli military official said on Wednesday.