The United Nations Deputy Secretary, Miroslav Jenča, said tonight that it is “deeply alarming” and could endanger the lives of more Palestinians, as well as the Israeli hostages retained by. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with his security cabinet this Thursday, and then make the final decision, which has neither popular or military support.
It has been suggested that the plan could be a negotiation tactic to press Hamas, after a recent breakdown of high the fire conversations, or an attempt to prop up the support of Netanyahu’s extreme right -right coalition partners.
When asked if he would support an Israeli plan to reocup all Gaza, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, replied this last night: Tel Aviv faces a growing international pressure for the war in Gaza, where, according to experts, a famine is taking place.
Before Security Council, Jenča said he warned of any expansion of Israel’s military operations. “This could have catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and make the lives of hostages that remain in Gaza in greater danger,” he said. He added that, according to international law, Gaza “is and must remain an integral part of a”.
The Israeli army said that it has 75% Operational Control of Gaza, but the new plan would propose to occupy the entire region, including areas where more than two million Palestinians now live. Around 87% of Gaza is under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders, contradicts the UN.
It is not clear what that would mean for civilians and for the operations of the United Nations and other help groups. About 90% of the 2.1 million inhabitants of Gaza have been displaced, some repeatedly, and live in overcrowding and extreme conditions. Humanitarian organizations and UN officials claim that many go hungry and accuse Israel to hinder the distribution of crucial aid.
Yesterday, Israel announced that it will allow local Gaza entrepreneurs to resume the entry of some products as part of the efforts to improve the conditions there. Previously, private imports had been suspended due to accusations that Hamas benefited from them. The Palestinians point out that the Israeli ministers of the extreme right and, ultimately, want to build new Jewish settlements there.
The proposal has been very divisive in Israel, with reports that the head of the Army and other military leaders oppose the strategy. “If that doesn’t work for the Chief of Staff, I should resign,” said a Netanyahu spokesman yesterday.
The families of the hostages have expressed their fear that such a decision can endanger their loved ones. Israel says that 49 hostages continue to be held in Gaza, of which it is believed that 27 are dead.
Jenča reiterated before the UN Security Council the call to the high fire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Citing the “miserable” and “inhuman” conditions faced by the Palestinians, he urged Israel to immediately allow the step without sufficient obstacles. “Israel continues to severely restrict humanitarian assistance that enters Gaza, and the help that is allowed to enter is extremely insufficient,” said Jenča.
He also condemned the current violence in food distribution sites and said that more than 1,200 Palestinians have died since the end of May while trying to access food and supplies. Last week, the Gaza Ministry of Health, led by Hamas, said they had died due to lack of food since October 2023.
UN agencies have warned that there is a massive famine caused by man in Gaza and have reported at least 63 deaths related to malnutrition this month. Israel has previously insisted that there are no restrictions on the sending of help and that “there is no famine” in Gaza.
