Growing International Rejection of Israel's Decision to Occupy the Gaza Strip

The Israeli cabinet's decision to occupy Gaza City and displace its residents to camps is facing increasing international rejection, amid a genocidal war and a massive humanitarian disaster that includes killing and starvation in the besieged sector. Germany, Britain, Italy, New Zealand and Australia have rejected Israeli plans to occupy Gaza.

A joint statement issued by the foreign ministries of the five countries stated that the invasion would exacerbate the humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and could lead to mass displacement of civilians. Moreover, this plan may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. The partners called on the international community to seek a permanent ceasefire and deliver aid to the affected population in the Gaza Strip, and demanded that Hamas immediately release the hostages.

The statement clarified that the only way to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is a two-state solution. He added that achieving this requires the complete disarmament of Hamas and its removal from any governmental responsibility, while the Palestinian Authority plays a pivotal role in any future government in the Gaza Strip. Israel rejects this.

Germany announced in a separate statement that it would suspend the export of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. In a statement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Israel has "the right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism," but expressed concern about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dramatic escalation of the conflict.

Merz explained that "the most brutal military action launched by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, which was approved by the Israeli government last night, makes it increasingly difficult, from the German government's point of view, to achieve these goals."

For his part, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the Israeli government's plans are "wrong, and we urge them to reconsider them immediately." He added, according to NBC News, "This action will not contribute to ending this conflict or ensuring the release of the hostages, but will only lead to more bloodshed."

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, supported the United Kingdom's position, saying that "the expanded military operation must be reconsidered." She called for the release of all hostages, the provision of "immediate and unhindered" humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a ceasefire. For its part, Belgium announced the summoning of its Belgian ambassador.

The Israeli decision also faced the objection of a group of Arab countries on Friday. Jordan described the Israeli government's plans as an attempt to "entrench its occupation" of the Palestinian territories. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in a telephone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, affirmed his country's support for the Palestinian people and its opposition to any attempt to displace them.

Likewise, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced its strong condemnation of Netanyahu's move. The Kingdom warned that the international community's continued failure to intervene to stop the Israeli aggression threatens global peace and "portends dire consequences."

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned Israel's unilateral decision to control Gaza City and described it as a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that Israel's actions also jeopardize the prospects for achieving peace in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to the Indonesian news agency Antara News.

The ministry continued that the International Court of Justice affirmed that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and that Israel has no sovereignty over the Palestinian territories. Therefore, no action taken by Israel can change the legal status of the Palestinian territories.

The ministry added that Indonesia also urges the UN Security Council and the international community to take concrete steps to stop illegal Israeli actions.

The (Cabinet) had approved on Thursday-Friday night the security plan presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy the Gaza Strip, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The office said in a statement that under this plan, the Israeli army "is preparing to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian aid to civilians outside the combat zones."

The statement added that "the Security Cabinet approved, in a majority vote, five principles for ending the war: disarming Hamas, returning all prisoners - alive and dead, disarming the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip, and establishing an alternative civil administration that does not belong to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority." The statement affirmed that "an overwhelming majority of government ministers considered that the alternative plan" that was presented to the Cabinet for consideration "will not defeat Hamas and will not return the prisoners."

Details of what happened in the Israeli Cabinet session to make the decision to occupy Gaza

Thousands of Israelis had demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's office in occupied Jerusalem and other locations on Thursday-Friday night, protesting the plan to expand military operations. The official Hebrew Broadcasting Corporation said that the Israeli police suppressed demonstrators who closed the Ayalon (main) street in the center of Tel Aviv, and used wastewater to disperse them and reopen the street. The demonstrations were attended by families of prisoners held in Gaza, and former detainees released by Hamas.

Since the beginning of the genocide on October 7, 2023, the Israeli army controlled Gaza City before withdrawing from most of its neighborhoods in April 2024, after announcing the "destruction of Hamas' infrastructure." With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, which includes killing, starvation, destruction and forced displacement, ignoring all international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to stop it. The genocide has left about 206,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced people and a famine that has claimed the lives of many.