Criticism of Israel's Gaza blueprints from overseas countries
In a significant development, Germany, the UK, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have rejected Israel's plans to capture Gaza. The international community expresses grave concerns over the potential humanitarian consequences and potential violations of international law.
The proposed military takeover of Gaza, starting with Gaza City, has drawn strong condemnation from the United Nations (UN). UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an immediate halt to the plan, stating that it violates the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel must end its occupation and respect Palestinian self-determination.
The UN warns that this military action could lead to massive forced displacement, widespread killing, unspeakable suffering, and possible atrocity crimes in Gaza. The High Commissioner urges Israel to prioritise saving civilian lives by allowing unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Palestinian armed groups as well as Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel.
The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on the matter on Sunday. The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU Council President, António Costa, have also called on the Israeli government to reconsider its decision to capture Gaza. The United Arab Emirates has called for de-escalating measures and warned against the spread of violence, tensions, and insecurity throughout the region.
Qatar, playing an important role as a mediator in the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamic Hamas, has condemned Israel's plans to capture Gaza, stating that it poses a dangerous escalation and threatens to further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The international community, exemplified by the UN, is urging a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The partners have called on the international community to work towards a lasting ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. The joint statement from the five countries asserts that the only way to achieve lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the Israeli security cabinet has approved an expansion of military operations in the Gaza Strip and the capture of the city of Gaza, based on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal. However, the Israeli government has not publicly responded to the criticism from these countries. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has halted exports of military goods to Israel that could be used in the Gaza conflict.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned of a "dangerous escalation", and five principles for ending the war in the Gaza Strip have been adopted, including disarming the Islamic Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control of the coastal region, and establishing a civilian administration not subject to the terrorist organization Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA).
As global criticism of the plans to capture Gaza continues to grow, it remains to be seen how Israel will respond to the international pressure for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The political and general-news world is abuzz with criticism following Israel's proposed military takeover of Gaza, with the United Nations (UN) and multiple countries, including Germany and the European Union (EU), urging for an immediate halt to the plan and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Germany's Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has even halted exports of military goods to Israel that could be used in the Gaza conflict.
