As Netanyahu signals full reoccupation of Gaza, UN urges restraint amid fears for Palestinian civilians and remaining hostages.
A senior United Nations official has issued a stark warning about Israel’s potential escalation in Gaza, saying any move to fully reoccupy the strip would have “catastrophic consequences” for both Palestinians and Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča, speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council, called the reports of an impending full-scale Israeli military push into Gaza “deeply alarming.” He warned such a strategy would risk escalating an already dire humanitarian crisis and further jeopardize the lives of hostages.
His statement follows Israeli media reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to present a plan to his security cabinet this week for a complete military conquest of Gaza. A senior Israeli official was quoted as saying, “The die has been cast. We’re going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas.”
The security cabinet is expected to meet Thursday to deliberate on the proposal. Analysts suggest that the plan may serve as a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas after the collapse of ceasefire talks or a political move to bolster Netanyahu’s support among far-right coalition members.
International Alarm Over Military Expansion
Israel has faced mounting global criticism over its prolonged offensive in Gaza, where more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN and humanitarian organizations warn that famine is unfolding, with mass starvation described as man-made.
Jenča stressed that Gaza “is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state,” underscoring international legal norms and the growing concern that full occupation could derail prospects for peace and deepen regional instability.
Although the Israeli military claims operational control over 75% of Gaza, the new proposal reportedly includes occupying the remaining territory—home to over two million Palestinians.
The plan has sparked division within Israel. Reports suggest that top Israeli military officials, including the army chief, oppose the move. In response, a senior government figure said, “If that doesn’t work for the chief of staff, he should resign.”
Families of Israeli hostages have also voiced fear that further military escalation could endanger the lives of the 49 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza. Among those, 27 are presumed dead.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Jenča also renewed the UN’s call for an immediate ceasefire, as well as the unconditional release of all hostages. He described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as “squalid” and “inhumane,” calling on Israel to allow unimpeded humanitarian access.
“Israel continues to severely restrict humanitarian assistance entering Gaza, and the aid that is permitted to enter is grossly inadequate,” he said.
He condemned the increasing violence at food distribution points, noting that over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since late May while trying to access aid. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 154 people—including 89 children—have died from hunger since October 2023, with at least 63 malnutrition-related deaths recorded this month alone.
While Israel maintains that it is not restricting aid and insists there is “no starvation” in Gaza, UN agencies and independent observers have painted a drastically different picture.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. Israel’s military response has since devastated the territory, sparking international outrage and humanitarian alarm.