Defense Minister Gantz calls up 9,000 reservists as Israel contemplates a possible ground invasion of Gaza.

Heavy and continuous rocket barrages were launched this evening (Thursday) at communities in the south of the country, including Be'er Sheva, the Bedouin settlements and the Gaza periphery.

In response, Defense Minister Benny Gantz authorized the IDF to call up another 9,000 reservists in accordance with the operational needs, after an assessment of the security situation.

The reservists are part of combat units and will be called upon to assist in Operation Guardian of the Walls. They will be stationed in the Southern Command as well as in the Central Command and the Northern Command, in place of forces that have been relocated to other missions.

A senior diplomat said tonight "We do not rule out a ground campaign" and said the issue came up in cabinet deliberations yesterday. The IDF is preparing for the option of a ground invasion and is sending combat forces to the Gaza Division.

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Earlier, Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Aviv Kochavi issued a curfew order: all soldiers will remain on base and will not be allowed to leave their homes until further notice.

In addition, the Chief of Staff decided to expand the mobilization of the IDF reserves to 7,000 soldiers, some for combat and some for the Home Front Command.

Gaza terrorists on Thursday afternoon fired a barrage of rockets at the cities of Ramat Gan, Kfar Chabad, Herzliya, Givat Shmuel, Tel Aviv, and other cities in central Israel.

A minute later, rockets were fired at Lakiya, Be'er Sheva, and various Bedouin settlements in the Negev.

Just prior to the long-range rocket fire at central Israel, a heavy barrage of rockets was fired at Jewish communities near Gaza, including Nirim, Ashkelon, Nir Am, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, Ashdod, Sdei Eliyahu, Sderot, and others. Read more at Arutz-7