Israel’s expansion of Gaza war risks ‘catastrophic’ outcomes: UN

A top UN official warned Tuesday that Israel is risking “catastrophic consequences” in Gaza, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly considered total occupation of the Palestinian territory.

A widening of the war “would risk catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza”, Miroslav Jenca, UN assistant secretary-general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, told a Security Council meeting.

“There is no military solution to the conflict in Gaza or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Jenca said.

During a visit to an army training facility earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: “It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”

Israeli media reports indicated that the Israeli leader is considering a complete invasion and occupation of Gaza.

Over 22 months, Israeli forces have levelled large parts of the Gaza Strip, blocked aid to the enclave and killed at least 61,000 Palestinians. In recent weeks, pressure has piled on the Israeli leadership to ease its blockade on humanitarian aid.

UN experts and leading rights groups have deemed Israel’s actions in Gaza to be genocide.