Tel Aviv: The Israeli army has issued orders to call up thousands of reserve soldiers to bolster its intensified military campaign in the Gaza Strip. This move follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to postpone his scheduled visit to Azerbaijan.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the reserve soldiers are set to be stationed along Israel’s border with Lebanon and in the occupied West Bank. Their deployment aims to replace regular soldiers who will spearhead the new offensive operations in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office had previously announced the postponement of his Azerbaijan visit, which was planned for May 7-11, attributing the change to an “intense diplomatic and security schedule.” While no new date has been set for the visit, the decision reflects recent developments in both Gaza and Syria.

The visit to Azerbaijan was anticipated to include a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. In conjunction with these developments, Israeli media reports indicate that the Israeli security cabinet has approved plans for an expanded military operation in the Gaza Strip.