UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deep concern over the Israeli government’s decision to seize control of Gaza City.”
A statement issued by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that this decision represents a serious escalation and risks further deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, potentially putting more lives at risk.
The statement noted that Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian disaster of horrific proportions, warning that “this additional escalation will lead to further forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.”
The Secretary-General renewed his urgent call for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees.
On Friday, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, escalating its brutal aggression against the devastated Palestinian territory and displacing the city’s residents from the north to the south.
This move has sparked renewed criticism both domestically and internationally, with growing concerns over a war that has lasted for nearly two years.
The plan begins with occupying Gaza City by displacing its roughly one million residents to the south, then surrounding the city and carrying out incursions into residential areas. The second phase includes occupying refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip, large parts of which have already been destroyed.
According to UN data, 87% of the territory of the war-torn Palestinian enclave is now either under Israeli occupation or subject to evacuation orders. The UN warned that any further military expansion would have catastrophic consequences.
In a related development, the UN Security Council will hold a meeting today, Saturday, to discuss Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City.
