UN Security Council and Arab League Convene on Israeli Plan to Take Control of Gaza
The United Nations (UN) Security Council and the Arab League are set to hold emergency meetings over Israel's controversial decision to expand its operations and reoccupy Gaza City. The decision by Israel, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sparked international alarm and condemnation.
Context and Background
The UN Security Council's meeting, set for 10am in New York, was reportedly requested by the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia, as reported by multiple sources. The Arab League will also be holding an extraordinary session on Sunday, focusing on mechanisms to challenge Israeli abuses, with the Palestine envoy to the Arab League declaring the meeting necessary in light of Israel's decision.
Israeli plans to expand operations and capture Gaza City have drawn severe condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres terming the plan a dangerous escalation
. The plans were announced amidst the stalling of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, with Israeli officials briefing local and international media about considering an expansive offensive.
Key Developments and Details
Aid delivery chaos has erupted in Gaza, with 20 people reportedly killed when an aid truck overturned near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Truck drivers have cited increasingly dangerous conditions, blaming Israeli forces for forcing them to take unsafe routes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, has been accused of concealing military and political objectives beneath a false veneer of relief, drawing sharp criticism from UN human rights experts.
Implications and Reactions
The Israeli decision has sparked significant international concern. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned of catastrophic consequences
and further danger to the lives of remaining hostages in Gaza if the reports about Israel's decision were true.
Hamas senior representative Osama Hamdan called on the UN Security Council to issue firm and binding resolutions to rein in Israel and end the war on Gaza.
In a similar vein, more than 54 percent of Gaza’s 60,199 dead are children, women, or elderly, as revealed by the Gaza Media Office. The Addameer Foundation, a Palestinian NGO, also reported at least 54 Palestinians unaccounted for near aid control centres operated by GHF.
Current Status
As tensions mount over the Israeli plan and its feasibility, the emergency meetings by the UN and the Arab League are set to deliberate on the situation and explore potential mechanisms of response. The world watches as the future of Gaza hangs in the balance.