United Nations Representative Warns of Dire Ramifications if Israel Extends Strike in Gaza

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    <figcaption class="sc-536eff7b-0 FPsqq">Watch: UN official says Netanyahu's reported Gaza expansion plans risk "catastrophic consequences"</figcaption>

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    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">A top UN official has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza, following reports that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is considering a complete reoccupation of the strip.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča addressed a UN Security Council meeting, stating that such a move would be "deeply alarming" if true and could endanger the lives of more Palestinians, as well as Israeli hostages held by Hamas.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Israeli media suggests Netanyahu plans to consult with his security cabinet this week.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">"The die is cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip and the defeat of Hamas," a senior Israeli official is quoted as saying.</p>
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    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">The security cabinet, which is set to meet on Thursday, would need to approve such an action. Some speculate the plan might be a negotiating tactic to press Hamas after recent ceasefire talks fell apart or an effort to bolster support from Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Israel is facing growing international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as images and reports emerge of Palestinians suffering from starvation and malnutrition.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">In his statement, Jenča warned against any escalation of Israel's military operations.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">"This could result in catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and further threaten the lives of the hostages in Gaza," he warned. He also emphasized that Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state under international law.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Israel's military claims to already control 75% of Gaza; the new plan would extend control to the entire region, including areas home to over two million Palestinians. The proposal has sparked debate within Israel, with reports indicating that the army chief and other military leaders oppose the strategy.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">An unnamed Israeli official responded to the opposition by saying, "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign."</p>
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    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Families of hostages voice concerns that this decision may put their loved ones at greater risk, with 20 of the 50 believed to be alive in Gaza.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Jenča reiterated to the UN Security Council the call for a ceasefire and the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Highlighting the "squalid" and "inhumane" conditions faced by Palestinians, he called on Israel to ensure unobstructed access for sufficient aid.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">"Israel severely restricts humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and what is allowed in is grossly inadequate," Jenča stated.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">He also condemned the violence at food distribution sites, noting that over 1,200 Palestinians have lost their lives since May while attempting to access food and supplies.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Last week, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported that the death toll from starvation since October 2023 has reached 154, including 89 children, and more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's military campaign.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">UN agencies warn of man-made mass starvation in Gaza and have recorded at least 63 malnutrition-related deaths this month.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Israel has previously claimed there are no restrictions on aid deliveries and denied reports of starvation in Gaza.</p>
    <p class="sc-9a00e533-0 hxuGS">Israel initiated its military operation in response to Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others to Gaza.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vln1966r4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss