In the face of international condemnation and anger, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his planned military takeover of Gaza City, a move that UN officials warned on Sunday would lead to “another disaster” in a troubled, hungry enclave.
Netanyahu said in a rare press conference with international media that the controversial action was to take over once the largest city in Gaza, facing huge internal and international opposition, and was the fastest way to end the war.
“In contrast to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end the war quickly,” he said. “This is how we put the war to an end.”
In the early morning of Friday, Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, claiming it was part of the target of destroying Hamas and rescuing hostages held in the enclave. But the move has raised concerns that further combat will only endanger the captives and worsen the already serious humanitarian crisis.
Israel faced condemnation at the United Nations on Sunday, with strong opposition to Netanyahu's military plan against Gaza, which would constitute a “further violation of international law.”
“If these plans are implemented, they could trigger another disaster in Gaza, reverberating throughout the region and causing further forced displacement, killing and destruction, which exacerbates the unbearable suffering of the population,” said Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General of Europe.
Ramesh Rajasingham, head of the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said in Geneva that what is going on in Gaza is “no longer an imminent hunger crisis – it is hunger, pure and simple.”
Rajasingham said deaths related to hunger are increasing in enclaves, especially among children with severe malnutrition. Since October 2023, 98 children have died from severe acute malnutrition – since July 1 alone, he told the Safety Committee and cites the health authorities in Gaza.
“We speak frankly about the humanitarian conditions that “gone beyond the horrors,” Rajasingham said.
The United States is increasingly different from Israel's allies
The UK says Israel's expanded military operations are “the path to solutions, but to the path to more bloodshed”. Russia condemned Israel's plan to rule Gaza over its security forces as a “dangerous step that undermines the already fragile prospect of a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict”.
Denmark, South Korea, Greece, Slovenia and Guyana are all people who add voices to the opposition chorus and call on Israel to reverse the path.
“After 22 months of forced displacement, hunger and ethnic cleansing, this kind of action will not only destroy Gaza, but also annihilate what remains,” Algeria said.
The U.S., which is increasingly isolated in its defense of Israel's actions in Gaza, said it has “relatively worked” to free hostages and end the war. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Un Dorothy Shea accused members of the Security Council of “actively extending the war by spreading Israel” and “to hand over propaganda victory to terrorists.”
“The simple fact is that if Hamas allows hostages and all Gaza free hostages and all Gaza free, the war could end today,” Shea said. He added that the genocide allegations against Israel “was politically motivated and wrong.”
Israel faces global condemnation of its actions in Gaza, and protests are increasingly erupting as people show terror and anger at hunger on the territory.
Last week, thousands of people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. London police arrested 466 people on Saturday, protesting the British government's decision to ban Palestinian pro-Palestine Operations Group under anti-terrorism laws.
Israeli hostage family inside Israel was captured in the Gaza Strip and called for a nationwide strike next Sunday.
Netanyahu's The plan also brings Israel closer to the complete occupation of Gaza, which has been nearly 20 years. After nearly two years of war, the Israeli army has controlled about 75% of Gaza.
Analysts believe the plan was initiated and promoted by Netanyahu himself, and is arguably more evidence about his domestic political manipulation than any well-thought-out military strategy. Analysts say the plan gives Netanyahu time to fight for his political survival.
Netanyahu described the city of Gaza and the central camp surrounded by enclaves as “two remaining strongholds” in Hamas.
“Given Hamas' refusal to put down his arms, Israel has no choice but to do the job and complete Hamas' failure,” he said.
In response, militant groups said on Sunday that the only way to ensure that Israeli hostages “survive” is to stop military campaigns in Gaza and reach a peace deal.
“The problem of Netanyahu's continued manipulation (the Israeli hostages) is an excuse to continue to aggression and mislead public opinion,” Hamas said in a statement.
It added: “The only way to ensure its survival is to stop aggression and reach an agreement, not to continue bombing and blockade.”
Also on Sunday, Netanyahu once again asserted that Gaza has no hunger crisis despite reports from international organizations, including the United Nations.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said on social media that the number of malnutrition cases in children in Gaza is “shocking”. According to UNICEF, nearly 12,000 children have been identified as acute malnutrition in the past July.
Netanyahu accused Hamas of food shortages and accused the group of robbery of aid, saying it had “deliberately caused a supply shortage.”
When asked about U.S. President Donald Trump saying two weeks ago that there was “real hunger” in Gaza, Israeli leaders avoided the issue, saying he was grateful for Trump’s support.
Netanyahu and Trump spoke on Sunday about Israel’s plans for the war in Gaza, according to brief readings from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
“The two discussed Israel's plan to control the remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza to end the war to free the hostages and defeat Hamas,” reader said.
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his firm support for Israel since the beginning of the war.” It continues.
CNN has contacted the White House.