On August 10, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his plan to seize control of Gaza City, despite widespread international criticism.
Speaking at a rare press conference in Jerusalem, he called the plan, approved by Israel’s security cabinet, “the best way to end the war quickly.”
However, UN officials and global leaders warn it could worsen Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis.
UN Warns of “Calamity”
During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca cautioned that the plan could trigger “another calamity” in Gaza, leading to more displacement, deaths, and destruction.
Additionally, OCHA’s Ramesh Rajasingham stressed, “This is no longer a looming hunger crisis—it is starvation, pure and simple.”
Gaza’s health ministry reported five more malnutrition-related deaths, including two children, bringing the total to 217, with 100 children among them.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
Gaza faces severe food shortages due to Israel’s blockade and aid restrictions. Despite Netanyahu’s denial of a “starvation policy.”
26 Palestinians were killed seeking aid on August 10, including 15 near the Morag corridor and six near the Zikim crossing, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Since May 27, over 1,370 Palestinians have died while seeking food, the UN reports. Netanyahu claimed, without evidence, that Hamas is responsible for much of the violence.
Domestic and International Backlash
In Israel, families of hostages held by Hamas protested the plan, fearing it endangers captives. Tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv against the escalation.
Meanwhile, Britain’s deputy UN ambassador, James Kariuki, warned that the plan could prolong the conflict and deepen Palestinian suffering.
Algeria’s ambassador, Amar Bendjama, called for sanctions on Israel, a sentiment echoed by Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour.
However, the US, a key ally, supported Israel’s right to act against Hamas. US envoy Dorothy Shea accused critics of “prolonging the war by spreading lies.”
Hamas and Hostage Concerns
Netanyahu stated that Gaza City and Al Mawasi are Hamas’s last strongholds, with 75% of Gaza already under Israeli control.
He insisted the operation is necessary to defeat Hamas, which refuses to disarm without an independent Palestinian state.
Hamas condemned the plan as a “war crime,” warning it threatens remaining hostages.
What’s Next?
As Israel prepares to move “fairly quickly,” global calls for a ceasefire grow louder.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 and took 250 hostages, has led to over 61,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians.
With famine looming and protests mounting, the Gaza City plan remains a flashpoint.
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