UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday said that โthe Israeli Governmentโs plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately haltedโ.
Under the plan to โdefeatโ Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army โwill prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zonesโ, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuโs office said.
Turk said that the plan โruns 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 agreedย two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determinationโ.
He said Israel should instead allow โthe full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aidโ and Palestinian armed groups must unconditionally release hostages.
He added that Israel likewise should free โPalestinians arbitrarily detainedโ.
AFP
