Saudi Arabia yesterday condemned Israel’s decision to occupy the Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The kingdom condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation authorities’ decision to occupy the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said.
It also denounced ‘Israel’s persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people.’
The kingdom also slammed Israel’s ‘inhumane decisions’.
“The inhumane decisions... which the Israeli occupation authorities make... confirm once again that they do not comprehend the Palestinian people’s historical, emotional and legal bond to this land.”
It also warned that the international community’s and UN Security Council’s failure to ‘immediately halt all Israeli violations and aggressions’ threatens regional and global peace and “encourages genocide and forced displacement.”
“These ongoing Israeli crimes make it necessary for the international community today to take efficient, decisive and deterring stances that end the humanitarian catastrophe that the brotherly Palestinian people are suffering.”
The statement came hours after Israel’s military said it would ‘take control’ of Gaza City under a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approved by his security cabinet.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that “the Israeli government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted.
“It runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination,” he said in a statement.
Israel’s decision was heavily criticised by European Union leaders over humanitarian concerns.
Jordan also condemned, ‘in the strongest terms’, Israel’s plans ‘to entrench its occupation of the Gaza Strip and expand full military control over’.
Ambassador Sufian Al Qudah, in a statement ‘affirmed the kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of this plan, which represents an extension of the extremist Israeli government’s policy that uses starvation and siege as weapons against the Palestinian people.
“Full military control over the Gaza Strip undermines international efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement and ending the humanitarian suffering in the sector, stressing the necessity for Israel ... to immediately halt its aggression on Gaza” a portion of the statement said.
King Abdullah has assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Jordan’s continued support and solidarity, and as he reiterated Amman’s rejection and condemnation of Israel’s plan to consolidate the occupation of Gaza and expand military control over it.
King Abdullah also affirmed the kingdom’s commitment to supporting them in obtaining their just and legitimate rights and establishing their independent state, on the basis of the two-state solution, state news agency Petra reported, during a call between the two leaders.
The Turkish foreign ministry also strongly condemned Israel’s decision to take control of Gaza City, saying every step taken by the ‘fundamentalist Netanyahu government’ to continue its genocide and expand its occupation dealt a heavy blow to global peace and security.
Australia earlier urged Israel ‘not to go down this path’, after Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of Gaza.
“Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
Wong said permanent forced displacement was a violation of international law and repeated calls for a ceasefire, aid to flow unimpeded and for Hamas to return the hostages taken in October 2023.
“A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace – a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognised borders,” she added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said Israel’s decision to take control of Gaza City was wrong and urged the government in Jerusalem to reconsider.
“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately,” he said in a statement.
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.”
Australia has not yet joined Western allies such as the UK, Canada and France in announcing it would recognise Palestinian statehood but has said it would make a decision ‘at an appropriate time’, while escalating its criticism of Israel’s actions.
Israel’s decision to intensify its military operation in Gaza is wrong and should immediately be reversed, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Denmark’s TV2 yesterday.
After a security cabinet meeting yesterday, Netanyahu’s office confirmed a plan to take over Gaza City had been approved.
A statement said the Israeli Defence Forces would prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
Far-right allies in Netanyahu’s coalition have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza as part of his vow to eradicate Hamas fighters, though the military has warned this could endanger the lives of remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Israel’s political-security cabinet approved a plan early yesterday to take control of Gaza City, a move expanding military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad.
China also expressed ‘serious concerns’ over Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, urging it to ‘immediately cease its dangerous actions’.
“The correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to secure the release of hostages is an immediate ceasefire,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a message.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli government, his spokesman said. This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including of the remaining hostages, he added.
“The secretary-general warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
“The secretary-general reiterates his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” the spokesperson said.
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