Key points
- Such a move “would risk catastrophic consequences”: UN official
- Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state: UN Assistant Secretary-General
- European Commission vice president also describes plan as an “unacceptable provocation”
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) has called reports about a possible decision to expand Israel’s military operations throughout the Gaza Strip “deeply alarming”.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move “would risk catastrophic consequences … and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza,” according to Arab News.
He continued: “International law is clear in the regard, Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state.”
He said that the UN had also been clear that there was only one path to ending the ongoing violence and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, through a full and permanent ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
“Unacceptable provocation”
Al Jazeera reported that European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera has also described the plan as an “unacceptable provocation”.
AFO cited Gaza’s civil defense agency as saying that 20 people were killed when an aid truck overturned near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
“Twenty people were killed and dozens injured around midnight last night in a truck carrying aid overturned… while hundreds of civilians were waiting for aid,” the agency’s spokesperson Mahmud Bassal said.
Hamas accused Israel of forcing truck drivers to take unsafe routes to reach aid distribution centers, according to AFP.
According to Al Jazeera Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 61,020 people and wounded 150,671.
