British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a chilling warning that Israel’s scheme to escalate its occupation of Gaza “will only bring more bloodshed” on Friday after Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City.
Early on Friday morning, after a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet that lasted several hours in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement approving a plan to take control of Gaza City.
The security cabinet adopted the plans by majority vote and included “five principles for ending the war”, the statement says.
“The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” it says, detailing the following “principles for ending the war”:
- Disarmament of Hamas
- Return of all hostages – both living and dead
- Demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip
- Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip
- The existence of an alternative civilian government that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority
“An absolute majority of cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan presented to the cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of the abductees,” the statement concludes.
In response to the development, a host of countries has expressed concern over the plan and urged Israel to abandon it.
British PM Starmer issued a statement warning the expansion of Israel’s occupation of Gaza will only lead to further bloodshed.
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“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.
“Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.”
Starmer’s statement ended with a plea for a diplomatic solution.
“Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.”
Global condemnation
A host of other nations have condemned the move, in the hope of pressuring Israel to perform a U-turn.
Finland’s foreign minister Elina Valtonen said she was “extremely worried” by the looming famine in Gaza.
According to Reuters, Valtonen said: “We hope for an immediate Gaza ceasefire and the immediate release of Israeli hostages.”
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has urged Israel not to follow through on its plans to occupy Gaza, a step she said could constitute a breach of international law
“Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international law.”
Wong said Australia and international partners were maintaining ongoing calls for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and aid to flow unimpeded.
“A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace – a Palestinian state and the state of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognised borders.”
Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča told the UN Security Council Israel’s move is “deeply alarming”, and could endanger the lives of more Palestinians, as well as Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
“This would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza,” he said.
He added that under international law, Gaza “is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state.”
On Thursday, Russia condemned Israel’s plans to occupy the Gaza Strip, calling it a “very bad step” and a violation of UN decisions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I think that our position is quite clear, as it is similar to the position of everybody in the Security Council,” said Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
“We think that this is a very bad step in an absolutely wrong direction, and we condemn this kind of action,” he added.
More on this story as it develops…
