UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday conveyed his concern over studies of a deliberate growth of Israel’s occupation in Gaza, warning of extra deaths of civilians and extra destruction.
“I can tell you that the secretary-general is alarmed by these reports of Israeli plans to expand ground operations and prolong its military presence in Gaza,” his spokesperson Farhan Haq informed a news convention.
Stressing that Israel’s reported plans “will inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza,” he added: “What’s imperative now is an end to the violence, not more civilian deaths and destruction.”
“Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian state,” he mentioned, reiterating Guterres’ name for a direct and everlasting ceasefire in addition to the discharge of all hostages.
Earlier within the day, Israel’s Security Cabinet unanimously permitted a plan to increase its ongoing army onslaught on the Gaza Strip and occupy territories contained in the enclave.
In a press release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned the Cabinet permitted “the operational plan” submitted by military chief Eyal Zamir to “defeat (Palestinian group) Hamas” and for the return of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
According to the assertion, the plan requires the military “to conquer Gaza and hold the territory under its control.”
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the plan additionally consists of the forcible relocation of Palestinians from northern Gaza to the south.
More than 52,500 Palestinians, principally ladies and kids, have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for struggle crimes and crimes towards humanity in Gaza.
Israel additionally faces a genocide case on the International Court of Justice for its struggle on the enclave.
Source: www.anews.com.tr