Amy Sedghi (now) and Adam Fulton (earlier)
Fri 8 Aug 2025 06.55 EDT
First published on Thu 7 Aug 2025 22.28 EDTUN says Israel's plan for military takeover of Gaza 'must be immediately halted'
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, said on Friday that “the Israeli government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted”.
In a statement, Türk said:
It runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination.
Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, said the Israeli government’s decision to occupy Gaza City will “create even more human suffering”.
In a post on X, he wrote:
The decision of the Israeli government to seize control of Gaza City is completely and utterly unacceptable. It will create even more human suffering for the Palestinian people and further escalate the conflict.
The international community must stop Israel and secure a ceasefire.
China expressed “serious concerns” on Friday over Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, urging it to “immediately cease its dangerous actions”.
“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in a message.
“The correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to secure the release of hostages is an immediate ceasefire,” they added.
“A complete resolution to the Gaza conflict hinges on a ceasefire; only then can a path to de-escalation be paved and regional security ensured,” the spokesperson said.
Beijing said on Friday it was “willing to work together with the international community to help end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible”.