Five members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Sunday publicly condemned Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza.
“We condemn the decision of the Israeli government to further expand its military operations in Gaza. This plan risks violating international humanitarian law,” said Samuel Žbogar, Slovenia’s ambassador to the UN, in a joint statement on behalf of his country along with Britain, France, Denmark and Greece.
The countries called on Israel to “urgently reverse this decision and not implement it,” warning that expanding military operations would endanger the lives of civilians and remaining hostages, while also violating international law.
Žbogar condemned the worsening conditions in Gaza, saying: “Children are dying of hunger. The hunger is so severe that desperate civilians risk being killed at aid distribution points to feed their families.”
The countries called it a “man-made crisis” that requires urgent action to end the famine and increase aid to Gaza.
They demanded that Israel lift restrictions on aid deliveries and remove “unreasonable visa and registration requirements” for international NGOs.
They called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and progress towards a two-state solution.
Israel faces growing resentment over its deadly war in Gaza, where more than 61,400 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the brink of famine.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide charge before the International Court of Justice over its war in the enclave, AA writes.
