Netanyahu Defends Gaza City Takeover Plan as UN Warns of ‘Calamity’
In a rare press conference with foreign media on Sunday, August 10, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his controversial military takeover of Gaza City—a move drawing sharp criticism from the United Nations and world powers, who warn it will trigger “another calamity” in the already devastated enclave.
Netanyahu insisted the plan is “the fastest way to end the war”, arguing that seizing Gaza’s largest city is essential to defeating Hamas and rescuing hostages. Early Friday, Israel’s security cabinet approved the operation, framing it as a final push to destroy remaining Hamas strongholds. However, critics warn the offensive will likely worsen Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, endanger captives, and violate international law.
Netanyahu Gaza City takeover plan sparks global backlash
At the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France joined a chorus of nations opposing Israel’s Gaza City plan. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča warned it would “trigger another calamity” causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction, deepening the “unbearable suffering” of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Ramesh Rajasingham, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), painted a grim picture:
“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis—this is starvation, pure and simple.”
He reported that since October 2023, at least 98 children have died from severe acute malnutrition—37 since July 1 alone. UNICEF added that nearly 12,000 children were acutely malnourished in July, the highest monthly figure on record.
Humanitarian and Political Divide
The humanitarian situation has fueled large-scale protests globally. Tens of thousands marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last week, and police in London arrested 466 people at a rally opposing the UK’s ban on pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action under anti-terror laws.
Inside Israel, families of hostages held by Hamas have called for a nationwide general strike next Sunday to pressure the government to prioritize negotiations.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s plan moves Israel closer to full military occupation of Gaza for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Israeli army currently controls about 75% of the territory after 22 months of fighting. Analysts believe the operation reflects Netanyahu’s domestic political survival strategy as much as any concrete military goal.
International alarm grows over Netanyahu Gaza City takeover plan
World leaders have condemned the move:
- UK called it “a path to more bloodshed.”
- Russia warned of “dangerous steps” undermining peace prospects.
- Algeria said it would “annihilate what remains of Gaza” after months of displacement, starvation, and what it termed “ethnic cleansing.”
- Denmark, South Korea, Greece, Slovenia, and Guyana urged Israel to reverse course.
The United States remains a key outlier, continuing to back Israel. US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea accused critics of “handing propaganda victories to terrorists” and dismissed genocide accusations as “politically motivated and categorically false.” She claimed, “The war could end today if Hamas freed all hostages and Gaza.”
Statements from Both Sides
Hamas responded on Sunday, warning that hostages’ survival depends on halting the military campaign and reaching a peace agreement. The group accused Netanyahu of using hostages as a pretext to prolong the conflict.
Netanyahu rejected claims of starvation in Gaza, instead blaming Hamas for looting aid and “deliberately creating shortages.” When asked about Donald Trump’s earlier statement acknowledging “real starvation” in Gaza, Netanyahu avoided a direct answer but confirmed he spoke with Trump about the planned takeover of remaining Hamas strongholds.
As Netanyahu Gaza City takeover plan moves forward, the divide between Israel and much of the international community deepens. While Israel frames the operation as the final stage of defeating Hamas, the UN and humanitarian groups warn it risks triggering unprecedented suffering and further destabilizing the region.
Whether this strategy will hasten peace—or push Gaza deeper into humanitarian collapse—remains at the heart of one of the most contentious global crises today.
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