The United Nations last night called reports about a possible decision to expand Israel’s military operations throughout the Gaza Strip ‘deeply alarming’ if true.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move “would risk catastrophic consequences ... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
“International law is clear in the regard; Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior security officials earlier in the day to finalise a new strategy for the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza with media reporting he favoured a complete military takeover of the Palestinian enclave.
Responding to the reports at the Security Council, China’s deputy UN representative Geng Shuang, said: “We urge Israel to immediately halt such dangerous actions.”
He called for a ceasefire and urged countries with influence to take concrete steps to help bring one about.
The brother of Israeli hostage Evyatar David, who was shown appearing emaciated in a video released by Hamas last week, told the Security Council to use its leverage to secure the immediate unconditional release of remaining hostages and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches them.
Local health authorities said at least 20 people were killed by Israeli gunfire as they waited for UN aid trucks in the northern Gaza Strip.
In southern Gaza, 20 people were wounded by Israeli gunfire as they waited to get aid from UN aid trucks near Morag Square near Rafah, medics said.
Eight more people died of starvation or malnutrition in the past 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said, while at least 80 died in the latest Israeli firing.
The prime minister’s office said in a statement that Netanyahu had held a ‘limited security discussion’ lasting about three hours during which military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ‘presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza’.
An Israeli official had earlier told Reuters that Defence Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu, would also attend the meeting to decide on a strategy to take to the cabinet tomorrow.
Israel’s Channel 12, citing an official from Netanyahu’s office, had said the prime minister was leaning towards taking control of the entire territory. That would reverse a 2005 decision to withdraw from Gaza, while retaining control over its borders, a move right-wing parties blame for Hamas gaining power there.
It was unclear, however, whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages. The prime minister’s office declined to comment on the Channel 12 report.
“It is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, release our hostages and ensure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu told new recruits at a military base. “We are not giving up on any of these missions.”
A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports.
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