Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the media today ahead of a high-stakes UN emergency meeting on his government’s controversial plan to take over Gaza City. The meeting, scheduled for 15:00 BST, has been called by every member of the UN Security Council except the United States and Panama.
The Israeli plan, announced by Netanyahu’s office on Friday, sets out five objectives: to disarm Hamas, secure the release of hostages, demilitarise the Gaza Strip, take security control, and establish an “alternative civil administration.” Defence Minister Israel Katz has defended the move, saying international condemnation “will not weaken our resolve.”
However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. Families of hostages have condemned the plan, fearing it will jeopardise their loved ones’ safety. Several nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, have also voiced strong opposition, warning it risks escalating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Inside Gaza, despair is mounting. Gaza City home to around one million civilians is facing what many fear could be its most destructive phase yet in the nearly year-long war. Many residents were displaced in the early months of the conflict, only to return during a brief ceasefire in January that raised hopes of a lasting peace. Upon their return, many found their homes reduced to rubble.
Those fragile hopes collapsed in mid-March when Israel broke the ceasefire and restricted aid deliveries, plunging Gaza into what observers describe as the worst humanitarian crisis of the conflict. Food shortages, collapsing medical services, and unsafe living conditions have become daily realities.
With no signs of Hamas capitulating, analysts warn that Israel’s planned military push could bring devastating consequences for civilians. Protests in Israel reflect growing divisions over the government’s strategy, with opponents urging Netanyahu to prioritise diplomacy and humanitarian relief over further military escalation.
As the UN Security Council convenes, global attention will focus on whether international pressure can influence Israel’s course. For Gaza City’s residents, however, the clock is ticking, and the future looks increasingly uncertain.
Would you like me to also prepare a timeline of events leading to this UN emergency meeting so the article can include more context?
