(VOVworld) - The Israeli government has authorized the army to mobilize 40,000 reservists for strikes on the Gaza Strip amid rising tensions. Israeli media reported on Tuesday that there is no immediate plan to call up the reservists, but the order will be a contingency if the offensive needs to be expanded.

Israeli soldiers stand on Merkava tanks in an army deployment area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. (Photo: Reuters)

According to Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, this is part of a long-standing border defense campaign in which Israeli troops are permitted to retaliate against air strikes from Gaza by Hamas rockets. An unnamed Israeli official told the Walla! news website that the campaign’s goal is the complete destruction of Hamas’s rocket capability.   

The Arab League has asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to discuss Israel’s air strike plan.