In a joint statement published by the foreign ministries of several countries, the committee said, "We strongly condemn and categorically reject Israel's announcement of its intention to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip," considering that "this announcement constitutes a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a violation of international law, and an attempt to perpetuate the illegal occupation."
The committee added that Israel's approach is an extension of serious violations that include killing, starvation, forced displacement, and the annexation of Palestinian lands, warning that these crimes amount to "crimes against humanity," undermine the chances of achieving peace, and undermine international efforts to achieve calm.
It held the occupation fully responsible for the "unprecedented genocide and humanitarian disasters" in the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, to take urgent action to halt the aggressive policies and hold perpetrators of violations accountable.
The statement stressed the need to immediately halt the aggression, allow the urgent entry of sufficient humanitarian aid, ensure the freedom of action of relief agencies, and support the ceasefire efforts being undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. It also affirmed "the rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the need to preserve the legal and historical status of the holy sites."
The statement was signed by Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Gambia, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, the UAE, and Yemen, in addition to the signatures of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In the same context, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed a joint statement issued by Britain, Germany, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand rejecting Israel's plan to occupy the Gaza Strip, calling for a halt to its implementation, and warning of its humanitarian repercussions and the threat of famine.
On Friday, a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the five countries expressed their rejection of the Israeli Security Cabinet's decision to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, stressing that this step could exacerbate the humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of Israeli prisoners, and increase the risk of mass displacement of Palestinian civilians from the Strip.
The statement called on the international community to do everything it can to achieve an immediate and permanent ceasefire, especially in light of the worst-case scenario of famine threatening Gaza, allowing for the urgent and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
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The Palestinian Foreign Ministry demanded that the Palestinian Authority be empowered to exercise its authority over Gaza as part of the State of Palestine, and called on the Security Council to compel Israel to halt its aggression, genocide, and displacement.
For his part, Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that implementing the occupation's plan would undermine security and stability in the region and the world, stressing that Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine, like Jerusalem and the West Bank, and that a Palestinian state cannot be established without it.
The Israeli security cabinet approved, early Friday morning, a gradual plan presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy all of Gaza. The plan begins with the occupation of Gaza City and the displacement of its population of approximately one million to the south, followed by an expansion to the refugee camps in the center of the Strip, areas largely destroyed by Israel.
According to the United Nations, 87% of the Gaza Strip is now under occupation or evacuation orders, and any further military expansion would have "catastrophic consequences."
Since the genocide began on October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation army controlled Gaza City before withdrawing from most of its neighborhoods in April 2024, after announcing the "destruction of Hamas's infrastructure."
In parallel with the genocide perpetrated by Tel Aviv in Gaza, the army and settlers in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, have killed at least 1,013 Palestinians, injured nearly 7,000 others, and arrested more than 18,500, according to Palestinian data.
The Israeli genocide left 61,369 Palestinians dead, 152,850 injured, and more than 9,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and a famine claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
