Netanyahu Faces Growing International Backlash Over Gaza Plans Amid UN Criticism**

In the face of international criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Israel's plans to control Gaza City are necessary to combat Hamas and retrieve hostages. Despite his assurances, the UN and several nations raised concerns about potential violations of humanitarian laws.**

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staunchly defended his government's controversial plans to take control of Gaza City, claiming it as the "best way" to bring the ongoing conflict to a resolution. Speaking during a press conference, Netanyahu referred to accusations against Israel as "lies," and asserted that the offensive would proceed swiftly to liberate Gaza from Hamas. He denied any allegations of starvation among Palestinian civilians, arguing that only Israeli hostages were deliberately facing such conditions.

The UN Security Council convened for an emergency meeting, where members voiced strong disapproval of Israel's military strategy, with nations such as the UK and France cautioning that the plan could breach international humanitarian law. Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia joined in calling for a reversal of the proposed actions, suggesting they would not contribute to securing the release of hostages and could further jeopardize their safety.

China condemned what it termed the "collective punishment" of Gaza's population, while Russia cautioned against exacerbating hostilities in the region. UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca warned that executing these plans could lead to a humanitarian disaster, causing mass displacement and destruction.

Conversely, the United States defended Israel's position, with Ambassador Dorothy Shea emphasizing the U.S. commitment to freeing hostages and ending hostilities, which she argued was undermined by the Security Council discussions. She criticized members of the UN for allegedly mislabeling Israel's actions as genocidal.

Concurrent with the international debate, thousands of Israeli citizens took to the streets in opposition to the military plans, fearing the ramifications for hostages. Netanyahu announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would target what he described as the last significant Hamas strongholds in Gaza.

In his remarks, Netanyahu outlined a strategy for increasing humanitarian aid in the region, entailing the establishment of designated safe corridors for aid distribution and more air drops by Israeli forces and partners. This comes on the heels of the distressing statistic reported by the UN, indicating that since GHF's establishment of aid distribution points, over 1,373 Palestinians had perished while seeking food.

He attributed aid shortages and violence surrounding aid deliveries to Hamas, insisting that a lack of action would leave the hostages in peril. Netanyahu also criticized the international media for allegedly propagating false narratives, particularly regarding reports of starvation among Gazan children. Despite accusations of restricting journalistic access to Gaza, he mentioned a directive for foreign journalists to be allowed to cover events in the region.

As the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with recent deaths reported due to starvation and malnutrition, the conflict's toll on civilians has escalated, further igniting debates over the ethical implications of military intervention. This situation has been catalyzed by Israel's response to a surprise Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and hostage-taking. While longstanding reliance on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry has drawn skepticism, the humanitarian ramifications from the ongoing Israeli military campaign have started to draw concerns from the larger global community.