Russia criticizes Netanyahu's plan to exercise complete authority over Gaza
In a significant development, Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to take full control of Gaza city's territory and expand its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. This decision, if carried out, has raised concerns among the international community, who view it as a dangerous escalation likely to worsen humanitarian conditions and prolong conflict.
Russia has sharply condemned this move, with Dmitry Polyanskiy, the acting permanent representative of Russia to the UN, stating at an emergency meeting of the Security Council that the implementation of this decision deals a severe blow to the prospects of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Moscow reaffirmed its consistent position in favor of a diplomatic settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue based on the "two states for two peoples" formula.
The Russian delegation called on the UN Security Council to prevent further escalation and urged an immediate search for paths to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. They expressed concern that the expansion of the military operation and the deployment of Israeli forces could further worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to Polyanskiy, Israel's methods of distributing humanitarian aid contradict international humanitarian law and result in civilian deaths. The plan, if executed, could potentially worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza and lead to mass displacement of Gaza residents.
The international community has widely condemned Israel's decision. The UN’s top human rights official, Volker Türk, called for an immediate halt to Israel's full military takeover of Gaza, warning it violates international law and will cause "more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction, and atrocity crimes." He urged Israel to focus on saving civilian lives by allowing unrestricted humanitarian aid and called for the immediate release of all hostages and Palestinian detainees.
Amnesty International condemned the Israeli plan as “outrageous” and equated it to ongoing genocide against Palestinians. They urged states, especially Israel’s allies like the EU, to act forcefully through suspending arms transfers, imposing sanctions, ending the blockade, securing a ceasefire, and facilitating hostage release. They called for ending Israel’s occupation and settlements.
European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, criticized the plan as wrong and likely to increase bloodshed. Germany suspended military exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the move as a “dangerous escalation” with catastrophic consequences for Palestinians and further risks to hostages.
UN Security Council meetings highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis, with warnings that Israel’s Gaza City takeover plan could displace around 800,000 people and exacerbate an already dire situation. UN officials emphasized the plan risks “igniting another horrific chapter” in the conflict, with large-scale civilian uprooting and suffering.
However, the international condemnation stands in contrast to the US Ambassador to Israel’s defense of the plan as necessary to defeat Hamas, highlighting some division among key actors. The evacuation deadline for Gaza residents, as per Israel's plan, is October 7.
The Russian delegation at the UN Security Council strongly criticized Israel's plan to take full control of Gaza city's territory, viewing it as a threat to the "two states for two peoples" solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Amnesty International deemed the Israeli plan as comparable to ongoing genocide against Palestinians, urging international action to halt it.
