Israel will exert control over the entire Gaza Strip
In a move that could escalate the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel's government has approved a plan for a full military takeover of the Gaza Strip. This decision, made at the highest levels of government and military command, has been met with strong international opposition, particularly from the United Nations.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an immediate halt to this plan, citing potential violations of international law and severe humanitarian consequences. Türk's concerns include massive forced displacement, increased killings, widespread suffering, destruction, and potential atrocity crimes in Gaza.
The UN urges Israel to focus on saving civilian lives by ensuring humanitarian aid access and calls for the immediate release of all hostages held by Palestinian groups, as well as Palestinians detained by Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli security cabinet, which includes Netanyahu, have authorised this strategy. While specific statements from Netanyahu or detailed military leadership positions are not yet available, the approval by the security cabinet indicates the highest levels of government and military command's endorsement of the plan.
This development comes primarily from the ranks of the ultra-religious and nationalist coalition partners, who are also demanding the resettlement of the Palestinian population and the construction of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing for almost 22 months, beginning with the massacre of October 7, 2023, in which over 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken captive. So far, Israeli forces control roughly three-quarters of the densely populated coastal strip, with the remaining areas still under Hamas' control.
Netanyahu has ruled out a diplomatic solution with Hamas and has announced the full takeover of the Gaza Strip. However, military leaders have expressed concerns about the potential for heavy losses and long-term entanglements due to a full occupation of the Gaza Strip.
In the coming days, Netanyahu plans to seek the support of the cabinet and the military for this move. The number of hostages believed to be held in the areas still under Hamas' control remains at around 50, with 20 still alive, according to Israeli sources.
This critical moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has severe humanitarian and political implications. The UN continues to call for peace efforts and a halt to the planned military takeover, citing legal, humanitarian, and human rights concerns.
"The ongoing political tension and war-and-conflicts between Israel and Palestine, specifically the planned military takeover of the Gaza Strip, has garnered significant attention in the general news. This development, sanctioned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli security cabinet, has been met with opposition from international bodies like the United Nations, who urge Israel to focus on humanitarian issues and release hostages instead."
"As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, suggests, this move could potentially result in violations of international law, severe humanitarian consequences including mass displacement, increased killings, widespread suffering, destruction, and potential atrocity crimes in Gaza. These concerns highlight the severe political and human rights implications of the planned takeover."
