Israel Plans Total Control of Gaza City, Forcing Out 800,000 Palestinians
The United Nations warned Sunday of "another horrific chapter" of displacement and death as Israeli officials approved plans to gain total military control of Gaza City and displace up to 800,000 Palestinians by Oct. 7.
Top UN officials told an emergency Security Council session that Israel's proposed offensive targeting the densely populated urban center would compound what they described as an existing starvation crisis that has already killed 98 children from severe malnutrition since the war began.
"If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction – compounding the unbearable suffering of the population," said Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas.
The Israeli cabinet's decision this week represents a significant escalation in the 10-month war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and drawn international condemnation over the mounting civilian casualties and humanitarian crisis.
According to Israeli media reports cited by UN officials, the plan calls for surrounding Gaza City for three months after the mass displacement, followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza and clear Palestinian armed groups from the entire area.
Starvation Crisis Deepens
Even before any new military operations begin, senior humanitarian official Ramesh Rajasingham told ambassadors that hunger-related deaths were already rising across the territory of 2.3 million people.
"This is no longer a looming hunger crisis – this is starvation, pure and simple," said Rajasingham, head of the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office in Geneva.
Local authorities have documented 37 child deaths from severe acute malnutrition since July 1 alone, bringing the total to 98 since hostilities escalated, according to Rajasingham's briefing to the Security Council.
"Whatever lifelines remain, are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement and insufficient levels of life-saving aid," he said.
The UN official expressed "extreme concern" over the prolonged conflict and warned of the likely human toll following Israel's decision to expand military operations. He described the cabinet's approval as "a grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering."
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Massive Displacement Expected
The proposed Israeli operation would affect Gaza City, home to approximately 1 million Palestinians, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times during the war. UN officials said the plan foresees displacing some 800,000 people from the city by the Oct. 7 deadline.
Jenča warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy for "defeating Hamas" and establishing an alternative civilian administration risked "yet another dangerous escalation" that would destabilize the entire region.
The UN official called the timeline particularly concerning, noting that the proposed displacement would occur on the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the current war.
"There is no military solution to end the conflict," Jenča told the Security Council, emphasizing the need for political frameworks to address both Israeli and Palestinian concerns through a two-state solution.
International Legal Obligations
UN officials reminded the Security Council that Israel remains bound by provisional measures from the International Court of Justice in a case involving allegations of genocide in Gaza. Those measures include demands that Israel take immediate steps to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance.
Rajasingham called on all states "with any influence" to "look within our bruised collective conscience and summon the courage to do what is necessary to end this inhumanity and pain."
The humanitarian official emphasized that civilians must be protected and hostages released unconditionally, while arbitrarily detained Palestinians must also be freed. He said Israel must facilitate humanitarian relief operations both into and within Gaza to reach populations in need.
Humanitarian Workers Under Attack
The Security Council session highlighted the extreme dangers facing aid workers in Gaza, with Rajasingham reporting that more than 500 humanitarian workers have been killed since hostilities escalated, including at least 167 women.
"A grim milestone has also been crossed in the humanitarian community," he said, noting that smear campaigns against aid operations continue unabated as World Humanitarian Day approaches.
The death toll among aid workers represents an unprecedented level of casualties for humanitarian personnel in a single conflict zone, according to UN records.
Political Solutions Urged
Jenča stressed the importance of establishing frameworks that could facilitate a legitimate Palestinian government capable of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, politically, economically and administratively.
"Critically these frameworks must facilitate a legitimate Palestinian Government that can reunify Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, politically, economically and administratively," he said.
The UN official called for a united Palestinian leadership representing all of Palestine and urged the Palestinian Authority to advance its stated goal of holding elections to achieve political unity.
Regional Implications
The proposed Israeli operation comes as international efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal have stalled despite months of diplomatic pressure from the United States and other mediators.
UN officials warned that the escalation could have broader regional implications, potentially destabilizing neighboring countries and undermining international efforts to contain the conflict.
The Security Council meeting followed urgent consultations among member states after news of the Israeli cabinet decision emerged. Several countries had requested the emergency session to address what they described as a dangerous escalation.
Humanitarian Access Restricted
The UN agency for Palestine refugees has warned that no aid has been allowed into certain areas of Gaza for more than five months, contributing to the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Aid organizations report severe restrictions on their ability to operate throughout Gaza, with limited access for food, medical supplies and other essential items needed by the civilian population.
The combination of ongoing military operations, damaged infrastructure and restricted humanitarian access has created what UN officials describe as catastrophic conditions for civilians trapped in the territory.
Call for Ceasefire
Jenča reiterated calls for a "full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire" along with the unconditional release of all hostages and compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties.
The UN official emphasized that planning for Gaza's future must address urgent developments on the ground while establishing political and security frameworks to ease the humanitarian crisis and begin recovery efforts.
He called for reconstruction efforts that address legitimate concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians in line with achieving a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict.
International Response
The Security Council session reflected growing international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the potential for further escalation.
Member states have repeatedly called for increased humanitarian access and protection of civilians, while also emphasizing the need for a political solution to the underlying conflict.
The proposed Israeli operation would mark a significant expansion of military activities in Gaza City, which has already seen extensive destruction during nearly 11 months of warfare.
Ongoing Crisis
The war began after Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in the capture of around 250 hostages. Israel's military response has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
The conflict has displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, many multiple times, while destroying much of the territory's infrastructure including hospitals, schools and residential buildings.
As the Security Council concluded its emergency session, UN officials emphasized that immediate action was needed to prevent further catastrophe and address the mounting humanitarian crisis affecting millions of civilians caught in the conflict.
The international community faces mounting pressure to find diplomatic solutions as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate and the prospect of additional military escalation looms over the region.
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