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Israel calls up another 16,000 reserves

A displaced Palestinian child waves to a friend from inside a damaged classroom at the Abu Hussein U.N. school, in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 30, 2014.T he U.N. condemned Wednesday's attack on the school, with Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon calling it “outrageous” and “unjustifiable.” Israel said no U.N. facility had been intentionally targeted, but troops had responded to Hamas mortar fire nearby. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) A displaced Palestinian child waves to a friend from inside a damaged classroom at the Abu Hussein U.N. school, in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 30, 2014.T he U.N. condemned Wednesday's attack on the school, with Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon calling it “outrageous” and “unjustifiable.” Israel said no U.N. facility had been intentionally targeted, but troops had responded to Hamas mortar fire nearby. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

By Associated Press July 31, 2014 1 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s military says it is calling up another 16,000 reserves.

Thursday’s move gives the military the ability to substantially widen its 23-day-old Gaza offensive.

More than 1,360 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began on July 8. Fifty-six Israeli soldiers and three civilians on the Israeli side have lost their lives.

The development comes after another day of heavy fighting, with 116 Palestinians killed on Wednesday along with three Israeli soldiers.

Israel has now called up a total of 86,000 reserves during the Gaza conflict.