More from the emergency UNSC meeting
We have more from UN official Miroslav Jenca, who said the only way to stop the humanitarian suffering in Gaza is a full, immediate and permanent ceasefire.
“All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, allowing rapid, safe, unimpeded and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the population,” Jenca told the UNSC.
He said civilians, including humanitarian workers and those seeking aid, must be protected, and Palestinians must be able to return to their homes.
The UN official noted that the International Court of Justice stated that Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from their right to self-determination, including the right to an independent and sovereign state over the entirety of the Palestinian territories.
“There is no military solution to the armed conflict in Gaza, or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There will be no sustainable solution without an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-state solution,” he said.
Jenca urged the Palestinian Authority to proceed with holding elections to determine its future governance, saying the Palestinian people have a right to decide for themselves.
UK says Israeli military escalation will do nothing to end Gaza war
James Kariuki, the UK’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, has delivered a strong statement to the Security Council, calling Israel’s decision to seize Gaza City “wrong” and urging it to “reconsider immediately”.
“Expanding military operations will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict. It will not secure the release of the hostages. It will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” Kariuki said.
“This is not a path to resolution. It is a path to more bloodshed,” he added, saying the plan would displace nearly 1 million Palestinians.
“This inhumanity cannot be justified,” he said of the Israeli-imposed famine in the Gaza Strip. “The partial aid access Israel granted in late July has proven woefully inadequate. We have a clear message for Israel: Urgently and permanently lift all restrictions on aid delivery.”
France urges Israel to reverse Gaza military takeover plan
France has condemned Israel’s plan to expand military operations to take control of Gaza City and eventually the entire Gaza Strip, warning it would amount to “further violations of international law of an extreme severity”.
France’s Deputy Permanent Representative Jay Dharmadhikari said Paris “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the plan, which he said would have “dramatic humanitarian consequences” for civilians already “living in horrifying conditions”.
“The images of children dying of hunger or civilians being targeted as they tried to find food are unbearable,” Dharmadhikari said, urging Israel to comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians and infrastructure, and “urgently open up all crossing points” for safe, unhindered aid delivery.
Dharmadhikari also reiterated France’s call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire on Gaza.
