unsc-condemns-israel-s-gaza-reoccupation-plan

Four permanent members of the UN Security Council condemned and rejected the Israeli plan to reoccupy Gaza during an emergency meeting held in New York on Sunday, with the United States being the sole exception in supporting Israel.

 

The four members, including the UK, Russia, France, and China, strongly opposed the decision, which would see the Israeli army taking security control of Gaza City while displacing several hundred thousand Palestinians from south to north.

 

Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy slammed Israel, terming the decision "a gross violation of international law" that shows "blatant disregard for the appeals of the international community."

 

UK Deputy Permanent Representative James Kariuki also called the decision “wrong,” warning that expanding the military operation will only intensify the conflict and result in more civilian deaths.

 

He added that the move clearly contradicts what the international community has been striving to achieve — the release of captives and an end to the conflict.

 

Meanwhile, Chinese Permanent Representative Fu Cong urged Israel to "stop the dangerous move at once."

 

China once again reiterated that "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an integral part of the Palestinian territory."

 

“China will oppose any decision that seeks to force demographic changes or alter the territorial structure in Gaza,” he said.

 

France's Deputy Permanent Representative Jay Dharmadhikari called on Israel to quickly reconsider the decision, stating that “France opposes any plan for the occupation, annexation or settlement of the occupied enclave.”

 

Furthermore, as expected, the United States Deputy Representative Dorothy Shea said Israel had the “right to defend itself.”

 

The US, like Israel, has consistently blamed Hamas for rejecting the peace deal, although there has been no evidence that Hamas rejected it.

 

The deadlock remains due to Israel’s refusal to withdraw forces from Gaza and to reinstate the full flow of aid to civilians.

 

Earlier on Friday, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Netanyahu’s “gradual plan” to fully occupy Gaza and displace Palestinians from the north to the south.

 

Israel has faced mounting international outrage over its deadly war in Gaza, where more than 61,000 people have been killed since October 2023.