The last remaining churches in Gaza said they will not evacuate amid Israel's ramped-up military action and threats to destroy Gaza City.

Mughrabi TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israel’s military announced the first steps of an operation to take over Gaza City on Wednesday and called up tens of thousands of reservists while the government considered a new ceasefire proposal to pause nearly two years of war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered negotiations for the release of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza “on terms acceptable to Israel.”