Gaza, international condemnation of Netanyahu’s plan

Emergency meetings today at the UN and Arab League: tensions rise

The Israeli security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy the Gaza Strip, sparking a wave of international condemnation and alarm from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who spoke of a “dangerous escalation” and even more serious humanitarian risks for millions of Palestinians.

An extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, while the Arab League will hold an urgent meeting at the request of the Palestinians, as announced by the Wafa news agency.

The Israeli plan calls for the conquest of Gaza City, the disarmament of Hamas, and the liberation of the approximately 50 hostages still being held captive. This strategy has been “strongly” rejected by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, who in a joint statement denounced the risks of aggravating the humanitarian crisis, endangering the hostages, and violating international law. Similar criticism came from 20 Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, which called the plan a “violation of international law” and an attempt to consolidate “illegal occupation.”

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people demonstrated yesterday in Tel Aviv, in the so-called “Hostage Square,” calling for an end to hostilities and the release of prisoners. Among the demonstrators were relatives of the victims, who issued direct warnings to Netanyahu against military actions that could endanger the lives of the hostages.

Despite internal protests and divisions within the military establishment, Netanyahu is sticking to his hard line, rejecting the possibility of a truce and aiming to continue military operations.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)