By ABP Live News
<p>Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday authorised a military plan to seize Gaza City and approved the mobilisation of nearly 60,000 reservists. The decision comes even as international mediators await Israel’s formal reply to a ceasefire framework backed by Hamas. The proposal accepted by Hamas outlines a 60-day truce, phased release of hostages, the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, and measures to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.</p>
<p>Mediator Qatar voiced guarded optimism, while Egypt said earlier this week that “the ball is now in Israel’s court.”</p>
<p>A senior Israeli official, however, maintained that any deal must include the release of all hostages, news agency AFP reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly on the proposal, though he insisted last week that Israel would agree only to “an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and