News - Middle East: The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has said the Israeli plan for a full-scale military takeover of the besieged Gaza Strip will cause more deaths and suffering and must be halted immediately.

In a statement released on Friday, Turk said the plan “runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realization of the agreed two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination.”

In a landmark ruling in July last year, the court declared Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, unlawful and ruled that Israel is violating the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.

Israel’s war cabinet on Friday approved a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged strip—an area it has relentlessly bombarded for months.

Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel intended to take military control of the entire besieged Palestinian region.

"On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes," Turk said.

The UN rights chief also said Israel must allow the full flow of aid into the blockaded Palestinian region, which is on the verge of famine. "Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza’s civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid."

Separately, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres said Israel’s plan marked a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.

“The Secretary-General warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza,” the statement reads.

Guterres also called on the Israeli authorities to abide by their obligations under international law. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour calls for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council to take collective action against Israel’s new occupation plans for Gaza.

The decision has sparked reactions within the occupied territories, revealing deepening divisions among Israeli officials.

The Israeli military chief said the Gaza City takeover will endanger Israeli captives’ lives and exhaust Israeli soldiers.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has labeled the decision a “disaster,” attributing it to the influence of far-right ministers and cautioning that it could result in further casualties among both captives and soldiers.

Alon Liel, former director general of Israel’s foreign ministry, says the plan to take over Gaza City will isolate Israel even further.

“We complain here that countries are recognizing Palestine, but by this decision we are not recognizing the whole international community [which] thinks that this war should come to an end, and Israel is doing the opposite,” Liel said

“So, I’m very sad as a diplomat that Israel is ignoring the whole world, and I am worried about the implications because it will bring to a total isolation of Israel,” Liel said.

Israel presses ahead with its genocide in Gaza, killing more Palestinians, including starving people who seek aid.

At least four people, including two children, have lost their lives in the latest 24-hour reporting period due to malnutrition and starvation amid the Israeli blockade on Gaza. This brings the total number of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition to 201, including 98 children.

 The death toll from the US-Israeli genocide since October 20-23 has now risen above 61,300, with more than 152,300 others injured.

Press TV