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The government says they intend to increase that to half a million, including reservists – which would give it the second-largest military in Nato after the United States.

The first open letter to be published, in early April, was signed by 1,000 air force reservists and retirees.

In the past week, Israeli military reservists and veterans have signed several open letters condemning the ongoing war and questioning its priorities.

The camp targeted in the assault was housing reservists - local volunteers who assist the regular police in securing remote areas.

However, a BBC journalist near the Israel Gaza border today was told by a soldier that a call has gone out for 40,000 reservists to the Israeli army to present for duty.