A senior United Nations official has warned that Israel’s plan to seize control of Gaza City could trigger “another calamity” with far-reaching regional consequences.
Addressing a rare emergency weekend session of the UN Security Council, Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca cautioned that the move, recently approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, would likely result in more forced displacement, widespread destruction, and loss of life.
The meeting was convened following Israel’s announcement of its intention to take full control of Gaza City, a plan that has drawn mounting criticism both domestically and internationally amid growing famine risks in the besieged enclave.
The UN humanitarian office, OCHA, reported that 98 children have died from acute malnutrition since the conflict began in October 2023, including 37 deaths since July. “This is no longer a looming hunger crisis—this is starvation, pure and simple,” said OCHA’s coordination director, Ramesh Rajasingham.
Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour condemned Israel’s plans as “illegal and immoral,” urging that foreign journalists be granted access to Gaza. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 61,430 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the offensive, with 27 more deaths reported on Sunday, including 11 people waiting near aid distribution centres.
International reactions were sharply divided. Britain, while a close ally of Israel, warned the plan would deepen Palestinian suffering and prolong the war. The United States, in contrast, defended Israel’s right to determine its own security measures, accusing some nations of spreading misinformation that prolongs the conflict.
Algeria’s ambassador, Amar Bendjama, and the Palestinian envoy called for sanctions on Israel, while Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the plan as a flagrant violation of international law during talks with his Turkish counterpart.
Inside Israel, the plan has further polarised public opinion. Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted it was the quickest way to end the war, though he avoided giving a precise timetable. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv against the move, warning it could endanger captives and cost more soldiers’ lives.
The demonstrations reflect a deep divide within Israeli society between those seeking an immediate ceasefire and prisoner exchange, and others demanding the complete defeat of Hamas.
