The international community reacted strongly against the plans of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City and militarily control the Palestinian enclave, expressing concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis.
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In addition, the families of the surviving hostages still held by Hamas deemed the government’s decision “reckless” and demanded a ceasefire with the Islamist militia to allow for the release of the captives.
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Critiques from the United Kingdom, Germany, and China
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Israel’s decision to occupy the City of Gaza as “wrong” on Friday and urged the Israeli government to “immediately reconsider” the measure approved earlier this morning.
Starmer pointed out in a statement released today from his official residence at 10 Downing Street, “This action will not contribute in any way to ending this conflict or ensuring the release of the hostages. It will only lead to more bloodshed.”
He emphasized that the United Kingdom, along with its allies, is working on a long-term plan to ensure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution and, ultimately, achieve a better future for Palestinians and Israelis.
“But without both parties participating in good faith in the negotiations, that perspective fades before our eyes. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must steer away from the path of destruction,” he said.
While the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, announced the suspension of exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli government’s decision to expand its operations there.
Merz stated in a statement that this plan does not allow to understand how Israel intends to achieve the goals of disarming Hamas, achieving the release of hostages, and quickly starting negotiations for a ceasefire.
In turn, China expressed on Friday “serious concerns” about Israel’s plan, urging it to “immediately cease its dangerous actions.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory.”
Australia, in a statement sent by the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, urged the Netanyahu government not to militarily occupy the City of Gaza and stated that “a two-state solution is the only way to ensure lasting peace: a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, coexisting in peace and security within internationally recognized borders."
UN demands to stop Israel’s military decision
The plan of the Israeli Government “aimed at complete military control of the occupied Gaza Strip must be stopped immediately,” stated the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in a statement on Friday.
This plan, adopted early Friday by the Israeli Security Cabinet, “goes against the decision of the International Court of Justice that Israel must end its occupation as soon as possible, the implementation of the agreed two-state solution, and the right of Palestinians to self-determination,” Türk said.
According to the UN, this plan would cause “more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction,” added Türk. He also reiterated his call for the release of hostages held by Hamas, and of Palestinians “arbitrarily detained” by the Government of Israel.
Relatives of hostages accuse “carelessness”
The families of the Israeli hostages in Gaza denounced this Friday the “recklessness” of the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu for the decision to occupy the City of Gaza, and once again demanded an agreement with Hamas to free their loved ones.
“Our government is leading us towards a colossal catastrophe for the hostages and our soldiers. The cabinet has decided to embark on a new march of recklessness on the backs of the hostages, the soldiers, and Israeli society,” said the Forum of Families of Hostages and Disappeared in a statement.
The group, which represents the majority of the relatives of those kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, said that seeking the occupation of Gaza means abandoning the hostages, as well as ignoring the warnings of the military leadership and the will of the Israeli citizens.
“By choosing military escalation instead of negotiation, we are leaving our loved ones at the mercy of Hamas, an evil terrorist organization that systematically starves and abuses hostages,” the Forum denounced.