Israel considers reducing reserve forces due to high economic costs

JERUSALEM

Israel is considering reducing the number of reserve forces called to the army due to the high economic costs, Israeli media reported on Friday.

"The security unit is examining the possibility of reducing the number of reserve forces called in with the outbreak of the war against Hamas," Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing Israeli government authorities.

According to the report, Israeli authorities are considering "the demobilization option due to the high economic cost affecting the country's economy negatively."

"The monthly cost of reserve soldiers is approximately 5 billion shekels (about $1.3 billion)," the Israeli media outlet reported, adding that "the cost of missing working days of reserve soldiers is estimated to be approximately 1.6 billion shekels (about $427 million)."

The Israeli government has approved the mobilization of 360,000 reserve soldiers. Over 200,000 reserve soldiers have been recruited so far.

The Israeli army is mobilizing forces in Gaza as well as on Lebanon's northern border.

Since Israel started bombarding Gaza on Oct. 7, at least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity, and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a small trickle.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi