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United Nations – A senior UN official has cautioned against a full-scale Israeli occupation of Gaza, warning of “catastrophic repercussions” as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly considers such a move. The warning came during a UN Security Council meeting convened at Israel’s request too address the hostage situation in Gaza.
Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, emphasized that international law dictates Gaza must remain part of a future Palestinian state.He stated that expanding military operations poses a threat not only to the millions of Palestinians in Gaza but also to the safety of the remaining Israeli hostages held within the territory.
“There is no military solution to the conflict in Gaza or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Jenča asserted during the Tuesday night meeting held at UN Headquarters in New York City.
The Security Council meeting followed the October 7,2023,Hamas attack on Israel,which triggered the ongoing conflict. Israel requested the session specifically to focus on the hostage crisis,with approximately 136 individuals still held captive as of November 28,2023,according to Israeli officials.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages was reiterated during the meeting.Jenča also expressed concern over Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, stating that current levels are “not enough for the needs at all.”
He described widespread hunger within Gaza, citing the visible suffering of children and the risks taken by parents to secure basic necessities. The UN estimates that over 1.7 million Gazans – roughly 75% of the population – are internally displaced as of late November 2023, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
Background: The Israeli-palestinian Conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a decades-long dispute over land and self-determination. The gaza Strip, a 365 square kilometer territory bordering Egypt and Israel, is home to over 2.2 million Palestinians. it has been under an Israeli blockade as 2007, following Hamas’s takeover of the territory. The blockade restricts the movement of people and goods, contributing to significant economic hardship.
The status of Jerusalem also remains a central point of contention. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. International consensus generally does not recognize Israel’s annexation of East jerusalem, which occurred in 1980.
