British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said the Israeli political-security cabinet’s decision to take over Gaza City was “wrong” and urged the Israeli government to reconsider.
“This action will
do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.” “The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately,” he said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would move to take control of Gaza City, while continuing to facilitate humanitarian aid outside active combat areas.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu outlined Israel’s aim to establish military control over the entire Gaza Strip. However, he emphasised that Israel does not intend to govern the city long-term, expressing a preference to transfer authority to Arab forces.
“We don’t want to keep it… We want to have a security perimeter,” he said, though he did not clarify which Arab countries might assume control.
Turkey also condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, the foreign ministry said on Friday, calling on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to act to prevent the plan’s implementation.
The ministry said Israel must immediately halt its war plans, agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, and start negotiations for a two-state solution, saying each step by Israel’s government to continue what Turkey called Israel’s genocide and occupation of Palestinian lands dealt a heavy blow to global security, Reuters reported.
United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk warned on Friday that the Israeli government’s plan for a full-scale military takeover of Gaza would lead to increased death and suffering and must be stopped immediately.
He stated that the plan violates the International Court of Justice’s ruling, which calls on Israel to end its occupation promptly. Turk also emphasised that the move undermines efforts toward a two-state solution and infringes upon the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
This comes after Israel’s political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel plans to establish full military control over the entire Gaza Strip.
“On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes,” Turk said. “Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza’s civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid. The hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups.”
