Israeli Media: The Cost of Occupying Gaza is Between 20 - 25 Billion Shekels

SadaNews Economy - The Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated that the anticipated Israeli military operation to occupy the city of Gaza may cost between 20 and 25 billion shekels (5.9 – 7.3 billion dollars).

The authority added that the National Security Council and the Ministry of Finance discussed in recent days the necessity of increasing the army's budget in light of the operation, with expectations of the government approving amendments that include reducing the budgets of other ministries in favor of the Ministry of Defense.

It clarified that the Israeli army has mobilized the largest batch of reserve soldiers since the beginning of the war, exceeding 35,000, in preparation for operation "Gideon's Chariots 2", with an additional 25,000 expected to join in the coming weeks, bringing the total number to 60,000 reserve soldiers.

According to the authority, the occupying army plans to involve most of its brigades in the operation, except for the Paratroopers Brigade which will remain in the West Bank, while the reserve soldiers will take control over the border with the Gaza Strip.

Estimates suggest that the occupying army will be ready to start the operation in approximately 3 weeks, after a short training period for reserve forces and a break for the regular units. The operation will begin with a phase to encircle the city, followed by combat maneuvers within, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - wanted by international justice - described as the last strongholds of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The authority confirmed that the timing of the ground assault is linked to a large evacuation process for the residents of Gaza, numbering around 800,000, of whom only 10,000 have left so far.