Israel has begun the first phase of its military assault on Gaza City, with plans to mobilize up to 60,000 reservists as part of a broader effort to occupy the city, officials confirmed Wednesday.

“We have begun preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City. IDF forces are already positioned on the city’s outskirts,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Eddie Defrin said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the military campaign, codenamed Gideon’s Chariots II, according to an Israeli military official. The reservist call-up will begin immediately.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 58 Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours from Israeli strikes. The escalation comes just two days after Hamas announced it had accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, based on a U.S.-drafted framework from June.

Israel has not publicly responded to Hamas’ acceptance. At the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that President Donald Trump’s forceful social media post, warning hostages would only be freed if Hamas were “confronted and destroyed,” may have influenced Hamas’ decision.

“The timing speaks for itself,” Leavitt said, pointing reporters to Trump’s statement.

The exact terms of the ceasefire proposal have not yet been confirmed.