Netanyahu Defends Gaza Plan Amid UN Security Council Criticism
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says seizing Gaza City is the best way to defeat Hamas, as the UN Security Council warns of humanitarian law violations and a potential regional crisis.
UN Security Council Condemns Gaza Operation
At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, representatives from the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia warned that Israel's plan to seize control of Gaza City risked violating international humanitarian law and offered no guarantee of securing hostages' release.
China denounced it as "collective punishment", while Russia cautioned against "reckless intensification of hostilities". UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned such an offensive would trigger "another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region" with further displacement and destruction.
Netanyahu's Strategic Aims
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation as the "best way to free Gaza from Hamas", stating the offensive would proceed "fairly quickly" to dismantle the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the al-Mawasi area.
He outlined a three-step plan to boost aid access: opening safe corridors for humanitarian deliveries, increasing airdrops by Israeli forces and partners, and expanding distribution points run by the Gazan Humanitarian Foundation.
Netanyahu claimed Hamas looted aid trucks and denied accusations that Israel was starving Gazans, arguing that only Israeli hostages were being deliberately starved in Hamas-held areas.
Domestic and International Reactions
Thousands of Israelis protested, fearing the plan endangers hostages. Netanyahu also criticised international media for spreading Hamas propaganda, labelling some images of malnourished children "fake". He announced a directive allowing foreign journalists into Gaza.
Since the offensive began, the Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 61,000 Palestinians killed, including 217 deaths from starvation or malnutrition. The operation follows the 7 October Hamas attack in southern Israel that left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
Netanyahu insists the rapid operation will dismantle Hamas strongholds and secure hostages, despite UN warnings of a looming humanitarian disaster.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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