'Israel' approves largest reservist mobilization to expand Gaza war
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The Israeli government approves the mobilization of up to 450,000 reservists under Order 8 despite legal concerns and recruitment challenges among the Haredi community.
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Israeli soldiers move tanks around a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP)
The Israeli occupation government has approved a sweeping decision to mobilize up to 450,000 reservists under the emergency military directive known as Order 8, marking the most extensive reservist mobilization since the war erupted on October 7, 2023.
The order is set to remain in effect until August 31, 2025.
Legal concerns
Despite the magnitude of the mobilization, Israeli media reports indicate that the move was made amid serious legal reservations. A legal opinion accompanying the decision highlighted significant complications in renewing emergency draft orders, largely due to the government's failure to implement adequate measures to increase enlistment within the Haredi community.
Observers note that the lack of governmental action to address these gaps casts doubt on the legitimacy and sustainability of such large-scale mobilization efforts.
What is Order 8?
Order 8 is a high-level emergency mechanism within the Israeli military system, typically activated during wartime or in the face of security emergencies. It obliges reservists to report for duty immediately, with no room for delay or objection.
Considered one of the most urgent forms of military mobilization, Order 8 is intended to ensure rapid and decisive readiness in response to major security threats.
IOF call up 60,000 reservists in May
During the first week of May, Israeli occupation forces began issuing tens of thousands of reserve call-up orders, according to Israeli media, which reported that the move is intended to "expand the operation in the Gaza Strip."
Channel 14 reported that approximately 60,000 reservists were expected to report to their units and assume their positions near the Lebanese border, Syria, or the occupied West Bank, to free up regular combat units for redeployment to Gaza.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from families of Israeli captives held in Gaza, who warned that escalating the ground assault would only endanger the lives of captives.
The Israeli government has declared its intention to occupy the entirety of the Gaza Strip while neglecting the demands of the settler community, including ex-soldiers and the families of captives, who have been increasingly calling for the end of the war.
Read more: 'Israel' approves mobilization of 400K reservists as Gaza talks stall
