New York [US], August 9 (ANI): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “gravely alarmed” by the Israeli government’s decision to “take control of Gaza City,” warning that it marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.
Guterres cautioned that the move could further endanger lives, including those of the remaining hostages. He said Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure “a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions” and warned that further escalation will bring additional forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction, compounding the suffering of the population.
He reiterated his urgent call for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Guterres also strongly urged Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, recalling the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion of July 19, 2024, which declared that Israel must cease all new settlement activities, evacuate settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and end its unlawful presence there — including in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem — as rapidly as possible.
“There will be no sustainable solution to this conflict without an end to this unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-state solution. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian state,” Guterres stressed.
In a significant development, Israel’s security cabinet on Friday approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City, the Prime Minister’s Office said, according to The Times of Israel. The PMO added that Israel will provide humanitarian aid to civilians outside combat zones as part of the cabinet’s decision to back Netanyahu’s “proposal to defeat Hamas.”
The cabinet also approved five principles for ending the conflict: the disarmament of Hamas, the return of all 50 remaining hostages — 20 of whom are believed to be alive — the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control over Gaza, and the establishment of an alternative civilian government not led by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
An overwhelming majority of ministers rejected an alternative plan presented to the security cabinet, which they said would not secure Hamas’s defeat or the return of the hostages. The Times of Israel reported that this alternative was likely proposed by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who opposes occupying the Gaza Strip over fears it could cause a humanitarian disaster and further endanger hostages.
It remains unclear why the cabinet statement referred only to conquering Gaza City and not the entire Gaza Strip, as Netanyahu had indicated on Thursday. Gaza City is part of the 25 percent of the Strip that the IDF has yet to capture, along with several refugee camps in central Gaza. It is also uncertain whether those areas will be included in the cabinet-approved plan.
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