'More unbearable suffering': Condemnation of Israel’s new plans for Gaza 

Palestinians struggle to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City. Picture: AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi

The Israeli government's plan for a full-scale military takeover of Gaza will cause more deaths and suffering and must be halted immediately, the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Friday.

Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel intended to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, but the plan announced on Friday stopped short of this.

On Friday, Mr Turk said: "The Israeli government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted. It runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination.

"On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes. The war in Gaza must end now. And Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live side by side in peace.

"Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza’s civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid. 

"The hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups. Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel must also be immediately and unconditionally released."

After Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza City, Turkey's foreign ministry condemned it and called on the international community and US Security Council to act to prevent the plan's implementation.

The ministry also said Israel must immediately halt its war plans, agree a ceasefire in Gaza, and start negotiations for a two-state solution.

Turkey said each step by Israel's government to continue what it called Israel's genocide and occupation of Palestinian lands dealt a heavy blow to global security. Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of carrying out genocide in its war in Gaza.

Hamas described the Israeli government’s plan to take control of Gaza City as a “new war crime”, warning the operation would cost it “dearly”.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the group said in a statement: "The Zionist cabinet’s approval of plans to occupy Gaza City and evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime that the occupation army intends to commit against the city.

"We warn the criminal occupation that this criminal adventure will cost it dearly and will not be an easy journey."

Meanwhile, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said his country will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza “until further notice”.

The move by Germany, which had previously stopped short of tougher lines against Israel’s government taken by some of its European Union allies, appears likely to further isolate Israel over the military takeover plan which has been condemned by supporters of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

British prime minister Keir Starmer said Israel is “wrong” to approve plans to occupy Gaza City saying the new offensive will “bring more bloodshed”.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately," he said.

“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.”

Spain and the Netherlands have also condemned the Israeli government’s decision to escalate its military occupation of Gaza.