Israel's Gaza City takeover strategy draws condemnation

Qatar has joined the many voices criticizing Israel's decision to takeover Gaza City. 

The Gulf state described the move as a "grave and alarming escalation that risks deepening the already dire humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war in the territory."

In a statement issued on Friday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry also called Israel's "use of starvation and deprivation of food as a method of warfare against civilians" in Gaza.

The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia and New Zealand "strongly reject " Israeli's decision to take over Gaza City. 

"The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law," the ministers said in a joint statement issued early on Saturday morning.

The statement called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "catastrophic," and urged for all parties to "bring this terrible conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance."

The statement repeated the countries' commitment a two-state solution.

It also said a political resolution required the demilitarization and exclusion of the militant group Hamas from governing Gaza.

It added that Palestinian Authority must have a central role in ruling Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out transferring the governance of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.
 

France and Canada have joined the international condemnation of Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City. 

In a statement by the country's Foreign Ministry, Paris said it condemns the plan "in the strongest possible terms," adding that the country "reiterates its firm opposition to any plan for the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of its population."

They would undermine the "legitimate aspirations of Palestinians to live in peace within a viable, sovereign and contiguous state, and pose a threat to regional stability," the statement read.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Israel's plan "wrong" and said it will put the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militant groups Hamas and the Islamic Jihad at greater risk.

Both countries have said they intend to recognize Palestinian statehood in the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. 

In a significant shift for the German government, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a partial halt in arms exports to Israel. The decision comes on the heels of Israeli plans to take control of Gaza City, which sparked widespread condemnation.

The United Nations Security Council will meet on Saturday to discuss the Israeli government's plan to take over Gaza City, according to the Council's schedule.

Several Security Council members requested the meeting, the French AFP news agency reported, adding it was due to be held at 1900 GMT.

UN Security Council sessions rarely take place on the weekend. But this session comes amid growing international concern over the expansion of Israel's war in Gaza and its repercussions on millions of Palestinians who reside in the enclave.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Friday Israel's plan to take over GazaCity, labeling it a "dangerous escalation."

According to a statement released by Guterres' spokesperson, the UN chief believes the Israeli government's decision could worsen the situation of ordinary Palestinians that are already suffering heavily under the burden of war.

"This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians," Guterres said.

After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's surprise announcement of a partial halt in arms deliveries to Israel, DW spoke with Alon Liel, former director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, who warned of Israel's growing isolation due to its plans to reoccupy Gaza City.

According to Liel, Israel finds itself in a "very dangerous position" diplomatically.

"I think the main problem we have at this stage is the growing isolation of Israel internationally. So what's happening to us, especially a week ago with the additional 12 countries recognizing Palestine, is that Israel is finding itself in a very dangerous international corner."

The former diplomat described Merz's Friday decision as "important," arguing that Israel took the decision to take over Gaza City because "we were sure that we are immune to any international pressure."

He argued that support from the US is Israel's last diplomatic lifeline, especially when it comes to the recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Liel said he believes Israel is aiming to take control and run the Gaza Strip, also in terms of its civil infrastructure.

"There is no other civil administration that Israel will agree to or can emerge and Israel will agree to. One of the principles is that there will not be any Palestinian civil administration, not Hamas and not the PA [Palestinian Authority]."

"I think that's a tragedy," he said. "I don't think we can carry [an] additional 2 million Palestinians on our shoulders. Regarding health conditions, any type of humanitarian conditions.I don't think Israel as a small country can handle it."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed "disappointment" with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's decision to end the export of arms that could be used in Gaza "until further notice."

"Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement posted on X by his office.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has criticized the German government's decision to stop exporting arms to Israel that could be used in the war in Gaza.

"The change of course runs counter to all expressions of solidarity and promises made by the chancellor since he took office," council president Josef Schuster said, adding that "depriving Israel of the ability to defend itself" is a danger to the country's existence.

According to Schuster, Germany should instead increase pressure on Palestinian militant group Hamas, a group the country has labeled as a terrorist organization.

US Vice President JD Vance said the US and Britain had a different approach toward the crisis in Gaza but ultimately shared common goals in the region.

"We may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal, and we'll talk about that today," he said when asked if the US would recognize Palestinian statehood.

Vance reiterated that the US had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state, saying he didn't know what recognition would mean "given the lack of a functional government there."

"If it was easy to bring peace to that region of the world, it would have been done already," he said.

Vance made the remarks in England, where he is meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy while on holiday in the UK.

The UK has announced that it would recognize a state of Palestine unless Israel takes significant steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions.

France and Canada have made similar declarations.

European Council President Antonio Costa has said the Israeli government's decision to take over Gaza City "must have consequences" in terms of the country's relations with the European Union, "to be assessed by the Council."

Costa stressed that taking over Gaza "not only violates the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19 but also undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values."

"The situation in Gazaremains dramatic, and the decision by the Israeli government will only further worsen it," Costa posted on X.

Costa stressed that the two-state solution is the "only sustainable solution" for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry has criticized Israel's decision to take over Gaza City. 

The ministry condemned what it described as Israel's "starvation, brutal practices and ethnic cleansing" against the Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia, a major regional power, had seemed close to establishing ties with Israel before October 7, 2023, but has since said it could not normalize ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Egypt also condemned the move, saying the plan would "entrench the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories" and "eliminate all elements of life for the Palestinian people." 

Cairo called for the international community to pressure Israel to move toward a two-state solution. 

For years, Egypt — along with Qatar and the US — has taken on a mediator role between Israel and Hamas in repeated outbursts of conflict. 

Egypt has also repeatedly refused US plans to displace Palestinians into its territory, and instead has been pushing for a reconstruction plan for Gaza. 

Pakistan also joined international condemnation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling Israel's plan a "dangerous escalation" that will worsen the humanitarian crisis and derail peace prospects.

German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said she "strongly supports" Chancellor Friedrich Merz's decision to stop sending arms to Israel which could be used in the war in Gaza, saying it is the "necessary consequence" after the Israeli government's decision to take over Gaza City as part of the ongoing war in the enclave.

"The German government positioned itself clearly," Alabali Radovan said in a statement, adding that the annexation of Gaza or the expulsion of people from Gaza is "unacceptable."

The Social Democrat (SPD) lawmaker also called for Palestinian militant group Hamas to free all the Israeli hostages unconditionally and "end all terrorism" against Israel.

Hamas is considered a terrorist group in Germany, the US and several other countries.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said Israel's move to expand its military operation in Gaza "must be reconsidered" and called for the release of all hostages. 

Von der Leyen also urged "immediate and unhindered access to Gaza" for humanitarian aid. 

"A ceasefire is needed now," she added, posting on social media.

The EU has been criticized for a lack of action over the war in Gaza. The bloc has been split between strong supporters of Israel, including Germany, and others calling for pressure on Israel to end the war, such as Spain.

In July, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, proposed some options to punish Israel after breaching a cooperation deal with the bloc on human rights grounds. The measures have yet to be approved.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group ruling Gaza, has warned Israel that seizing control of Gaza City would amount to "sacrificing" the hostages still being held in the Palestinian enclave. 

Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not caring "about the fate of their captives."

"They understand that expanding the aggression means sacrificing them," the group said. 

Israel has said the aim of expanding its military operation to take over Gaza City was to destroy Hamas and return the hostages. 

The plan has been met with strong opposition in Israel, with critics saying the decision risks the safety of the hostages and Israeli soldiers in areas considered dangerous for them on the ground.