Y Mekelberg: With Gaza escalation, Israel risks ‘sacrificing hostages and its standing in the world’

The Israeli military stepped up its bombardment of Gaza City overnight, ahead of a key meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers on a potential ground operation to seize the enclave’s largest city. The army has already called up 60,000 reservists, signalling that the government may move ahead despite growing international condemnation. One military official said most reservists are not expected to see combat and that plans to take Gaza City remain under discussion. For in-depth analysis, Annette Young welcomes Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme at Chatham House in London.