As tensions rise, top UN officials indicate severe risks associated with Israel's potential full reoccupation of Gaza, urging for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian action.
UN Warns of Catastrophic Consequences if Israel Expands Gaza Operations
UN Warns of Catastrophic Consequences if Israel Expands Gaza Operations
A senior UN official has issued a dire warning regarding potential military escalation in Gaza, highlighting the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians.
The article text:
A prominent UN official has sounded the alarm over the potential "catastrophic consequences" of Israel expanding its military operations in Gaza. Following reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be considering a full reoccupation of the territory, Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča addressed the UN Security Council, stating that such actions could dramatically escalate the already dire humanitarian situation for Palestinians, as well as put the lives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in further peril.
Israeli media outlets have suggested that Netanyahu is set to convene with his security cabinet this week to discuss military strategies. A senior Israeli official purportedly stated, "The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip - and defeating Hamas." This upcoming cabinet meeting, scheduled for Thursday, is critical for the approval of any significant military escalation. Analysts speculate that the proposed reoccupation could serve as a tactic to leverage negotiations with Hamas following a collapse in ceasefire discussions, or to bolster support from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies.
Amid escalating international scrutiny regarding the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Jenča expressed serious concerns about the implications of intensified military operations. "This would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza," he warned.
Under international law, Jenča emphasized that Gaza is to remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state. Reports indicate that Israel currently controls 75% of Gaza, but the proposed expansion would involve the occupation of the entire region, which is home to over two million Palestinians living under increasingly severe conditions.
The suggested strategy has sparked significant debate within Israel, with military leaders reportedly divided over the feasibility of a full reoccupation. One unnamed Israeli official reacted to the dissent from military leadership by stating, "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign."
Families of the hostages have expressed their fear that such military plans will increase the risks to their loved ones, with only 20 out of 50 hostages believed to be alive. Jenča reiterated the UN's call for a ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, alongside the urgent need for humanitarian aid.
He highlighted the "inhumane" conditions prevalent in Gaza, requesting Israel to facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access. Jenča criticized the severely limited assistance entering Gaza, labelling it "grossly inadequate," and condemned the ongoing violence at food distribution centers, where over 1,200 Palestinians have lost their lives since late May while seeking basic supplies.
The situation has deteriorated to the extent that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported 154 deaths from food shortages since October, with over 60,000 lives claimed since Israel's military operations intensified. UN agencies have indicated that a man-made famine is unfolding in Gaza, corroborating reports of malnutrition-related fatalities.
Israel, in defense, has consistently asserted that there are no barriers to aid delivery and has denied the existence of starvation in Gaza. This military offensive initiated by Israel on 7 October 2023 was a response to a Hamas attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals taken as hostages into Gaza.
A prominent UN official has sounded the alarm over the potential "catastrophic consequences" of Israel expanding its military operations in Gaza. Following reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be considering a full reoccupation of the territory, Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča addressed the UN Security Council, stating that such actions could dramatically escalate the already dire humanitarian situation for Palestinians, as well as put the lives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in further peril.
Israeli media outlets have suggested that Netanyahu is set to convene with his security cabinet this week to discuss military strategies. A senior Israeli official purportedly stated, "The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip - and defeating Hamas." This upcoming cabinet meeting, scheduled for Thursday, is critical for the approval of any significant military escalation. Analysts speculate that the proposed reoccupation could serve as a tactic to leverage negotiations with Hamas following a collapse in ceasefire discussions, or to bolster support from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies.
Amid escalating international scrutiny regarding the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Jenča expressed serious concerns about the implications of intensified military operations. "This would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza," he warned.
Under international law, Jenča emphasized that Gaza is to remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state. Reports indicate that Israel currently controls 75% of Gaza, but the proposed expansion would involve the occupation of the entire region, which is home to over two million Palestinians living under increasingly severe conditions.
The suggested strategy has sparked significant debate within Israel, with military leaders reportedly divided over the feasibility of a full reoccupation. One unnamed Israeli official reacted to the dissent from military leadership by stating, "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign."
Families of the hostages have expressed their fear that such military plans will increase the risks to their loved ones, with only 20 out of 50 hostages believed to be alive. Jenča reiterated the UN's call for a ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, alongside the urgent need for humanitarian aid.
He highlighted the "inhumane" conditions prevalent in Gaza, requesting Israel to facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access. Jenča criticized the severely limited assistance entering Gaza, labelling it "grossly inadequate," and condemned the ongoing violence at food distribution centers, where over 1,200 Palestinians have lost their lives since late May while seeking basic supplies.
The situation has deteriorated to the extent that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported 154 deaths from food shortages since October, with over 60,000 lives claimed since Israel's military operations intensified. UN agencies have indicated that a man-made famine is unfolding in Gaza, corroborating reports of malnutrition-related fatalities.
Israel, in defense, has consistently asserted that there are no barriers to aid delivery and has denied the existence of starvation in Gaza. This military offensive initiated by Israel on 7 October 2023 was a response to a Hamas attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals taken as hostages into Gaza.
