UN official says Israel increasing Gaza operations would threat 'catastrophic penalties'

[ad_1] Yolande Knell Center East correspondent

Watch: UN official says Netanyahu's reported Gaza growth plans threat "catastrophic penalties"

A high UN official has warned there could be "catastrophic penalties" if Israel expands its army operations in Gaza, after studies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for complete reoccupation.

Assistant Secretary Common Miroslav Jenča informed the UN Safety Council such a transfer could be "deeply alarming", and will endanger the lives of extra Palestinians, in addition to Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu plans to satisfy his safety cupboard this week.

"The die has been forged. We're going for the total conquest of the Gaza Strip - and defeating Hamas," a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying.

The safety cupboard, which is because of meet on Thursday, would wish to approve such an motion.

It has been recommended the plan could possibly be a negotiating tactic to stress Hamas after a latest breakdown of ceasefire talks, or an try and shore up help from Netanyahu's far-right coalition companions.

Requested whether or not he would help an Israeli plan to reoccupy all of Gaza, US President Donald Trump responded: "That is just about going to be as much as Israel."

Israel has been going through mounting worldwide stress over the struggle in Gaza, the place consultants say famine is unfolding.

In his remarks, Jenča warned towards any growth of Israel's army operations.

"This could threat catastrophic penalties for thousands and thousands of Palestinians and will additional endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza," he mentioned.

He added that underneath worldwide legislation, Gaza "is and should stay an integral a part of a future Palestinian state".

Israel's army mentioned it already had operational management of 75% of Gaza, however the brand new plan would reportedly suggest occupying your complete area - together with areas the place greater than two million Palestinians now stay.

The proposals have proved divisive in Israel, with studies the military chief and different army leaders oppose the technique.

The unnamed Israeli official responded by saying: "If that does not work for the chief of workers, he ought to resign."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/75d7/live/baeaba80-7279-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.png.webp" loading="eager" alt="Map showing parts of Gaza under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> The households of hostages have expressed their concern that such a choice may endanger their family members.

Israel says 49 hostages are nonetheless being held in Gaza, of whom 27 are believed to be useless.

Jenča reiterated to the UN Safety Council the decision for a ceasefire and the instant and unconditional launch of all hostages.

Citing the "squalid" and "inhumane" circumstances confronted by Palestinians, he urged Israel to right away permit the unimpeded passage of ample help.

"Israel continues to severely prohibit humanitarian help getting into Gaza, and the help that's permitted to enter is grossly insufficient," Jenča mentioned.

He additionally condemned the continuing violence at meals distribution websites, saying greater than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed for the reason that finish of Could whereas attempting to entry meals and provides.

Final week, Gaza's Hamas-run well being ministry mentioned 154 folks together with 89 kids had died from a scarcity of meals since October 2023.

UN companies have warned there may be man-made, mass hunger in Gaza, and reported at the very least 63 malnutrition-related deaths this month.

Israel has beforehand insisted there aren't any restrictions on help deliveries and that there's "no hunger" in Gaza.

Israel launched its army offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas's assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, through which about 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 others taken to Gaza as hostages.