New york: The UN Security Council convened an emergency session Sunday to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza, responding to Israel's plan to further expand its military operation inside the Gaza Strip and take full control of the key population center of Gaza City.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, during his briefing to the 15-member organ, expressed deep concern over the potential consequences of Israel's decision. He warned that this move risks igniting another horrific chapter in the conflict, with implications reaching beyond Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Ramesh Rajasingham, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva and Director of the Coordination Division, also addressed the Council, highlighting the grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted immense suffering. He urged states with influence to act decisively to end the inhumanity and pain, emphasizing the necessity for Israel to allow humanitarian relief operations to reach those in need.
The UK's representative noted that the meeting was requested in response to Israel's decision to escalate its military operations, which he described as a wrong move that would not bring an end to the conflict but lead to more bloodshed. He called on Israel to reconsider its actions immediately.
Somalia's representative described Israel's military intentions as a "chilling blueprint for the next chapter of devastation," pointing out the dire implications for the 2 million people trapped in Gaza. He stressed the violation of international law by actions resulting in occupation, blockade, and collective punishment and urged for the preservation of the legal and historical status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem.
Denmark's delegate urged Israel to reverse its decision, warning that it would not secure the release of hostages but rather exacerbate the bloodshed. She condemned any forced displacement and cited the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion against altering the demography or status of the Gaza Strip, highlighting the famine-like conditions currently faced by the region.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Slovenia, and Greece, called for the urgent meeting, condemning Israel's decision as a breach of international humanitarian law. They warned that the plan endangers civilian lives in Gaza, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, and risks mass displacement. They urged an immediate reversal of the decision and a halt to its implementation.
