United Nations: Israel’s latest decision to take over Gaza City risks “igniting another horrific chapter” in the conflict, a senior United Nations official said during an emergency Security Council session today, as delegates warned that this escalation will uproot a million people and exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
According to EMM, Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, stated that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for “defeating Hamas” includes the disarmament of Hamas, the release of all hostages, the Gaza Strip’s demilitarization, Israeli security control over the Strip, and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. The Israel Defense Forces will also prepare to take control of Gaza City, while providing humanitarian assistance outside combat zones.
“This is yet another dangerous escalation of the conflict,” he warned, adding that Israel foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by 7 October 2025, affecting around 800,000 people, many of whom have been previously displaced. Reports indicate that the Israel Defense Forces would then surround the city for three months, followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza’s camps and clear the entire area of Palestinian armed groups.
In the ensuing discussion, many speakers condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City and urged that country to reverse its decision. Algeria’s delegate denounced Israel’s decision to displace the entire population of Gaza City and Northern Gaza, and impose full military control over the Strip, stating that such an operation would annihilate what remains of Gaza. The expansion of Israel’s military operation, the United Kingdom’s delegate concurred, is “not a path to resolution but a path to more bloodshed.”
The Russian Federation’s delegate condemned Israel’s intentions to seize Gaza as “dangerous steps which undermine the already fragile prospects for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict.” Urging Israel to retract the plan, the speaker for the Republic of Korea highlighted that a renewed full-scale operation against Gaza City will inevitably cause another round of forced displacement and killings.
Denmark’s delegate noted that the entire Strip faces famine-like conditions, deploring the killing of starving civilians trying to get food, and called for transparent investigations into these incidents. The representative of France urged Israel to allow the UN and all humanitarian actors to operate freely and safely, citing the unbearable images of children dying of hunger or civilians targeted while searching for food.
Opposing any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian population, Greece’s delegate reiterated that any potential annexation of Gaza or any other part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory would contravene international law. Slovenia’s delegate highlighted the plight of the 1 million people living in Gaza City, stressing the responsibility to protect them against the upcoming military onslaught.
Guyana’s delegate condemned Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people and called for the Council to take relevant decisions when appeals to morality, humanity, and legality fail. Pakistan’s delegate emphasized that the Council must be ready to impose a cost on Israel, including the deployment of an international protection force to save the besieged population.
Kuwait’s delegate, speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council, called for urgent and binding measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to stop the aggression. Panama’s representative affirmed that the Gazans need water, medicines, food, and protection, not more fire.
The representative of Sierra Leone underscored that genuine normalization offers Israel the prospect of lasting peace, security, and regional acceptance, but only if accompanied by an end to occupation and the realization of Palestinian statehood. Iraq’s delegate, speaking for the Arab Group, called for the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, the right to return, and compensation for Palestinian refugees.
Somalia’s representative highlighted that Israel’s intention to impose military control over the entire Gaza Strip is a chilling blueprint for devastation, urging for a permanent ceasefire. The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine stated that the plan adopted by the recent International High-Level Conference on Palestine foresees the Palestinian Authority resuming its sole governmental and security duties in the Gaza Strip with regional and international support, stressing that Israel’s goal is the destruction of the Palestinian people to facilitate its annexation of their land.
However, the United States’ delegate placed responsibility with Hamas, affirming Israel’s right to decide what is necessary for its security. Israel’s delegate emphasized that the establishment of a non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration is one of the principles adopted by Israel’s security cabinet, asserting that the operation is not conquest but liberation from a terror regime.