UN Warns of “Catastrophic Consequences” as Reports Emerge of Possible Expanded Gaza Operations

UN Warns of “Catastrophic Consequences” as Reports Emerge of Possible Expanded Gaza Operations
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United Nations officials have voiced “deep alarm” over reports that Israel may expand its military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, a move a top UN official warned would have “catastrophic consequences,” Reuters reported.

The warning comes as a new academic commentary introduces the term “healthocide” to describe the systematic targeting of healthcare services in Gaza and other conflict zones, highlighting a growing violation of international law, according to the Guardian.

During a recent UN Security Council meeting, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča stated that a possible decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reoccupy Gaza would be “deeply alarming,” posing a significant risk to millions of Palestinians and the remaining hostages. The reports suggest the plan is either a negotiating tactic or an attempt to consolidate support from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, with some Israeli military leaders reportedly opposing the move.

The situation is further complicated by a new commentary in the British Medical Journal, which argues that the systematic attacks on healthcare facilities and workers in Gaza and other conflict zones like Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and Syria constitute “healthocide.” The report cites data from the Gaza conflict, noting at least 986 medical workers’ deaths and the detention of doctors who have reportedly been subjected to torture and starvation. The authors are calling for the international community to hold those who break international humanitarian law accountable.