UN Warns Israel Risks Catastrophe by Expanding Gaza War

Photo: Reuters

On August 5, 2025, the United Nations expressed serious concern about reports that Israel may expand its military actions across the entire Gaza Strip.Miroslav Jenca, the UN Assistant Secretary-General, told the UN Security Council that this possible move was “deeply alarming” and could have terrible consequences. He warned it could not only hurt innocent civilians but also put the lives of hostages held by Hamas in even greater danger.

He also said that under international law, Gaza must remain part of a future Palestinian state, and that a full Israeli takeover would go against legal and moral responsibilities.

 What Israel Might Be Planning
Several news reports suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently met with top military and security officials to discuss a new plan—possibly to take full control of Gaza.

This would be a major change from Israel’s 2005 withdrawal, when Israeli forces and settlers left Gaza but still controlled its borders.

Now, some right-wing ministers in the government are supporting an idea to divide Gaza into smaller zones along the coast and put Palestinians into limited areas, creating a “buffer zone”.

 Calls for Ceasefire from UN and China
The Chinese representative at the United Nations, Geng Shuang, also spoke out. He urged Israel to stop any plans to expand the conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire.

He stressed that humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach Gaza without delays or barriers, and warned that further violence would only make the situation worse.

Heartbreaking Plea from a Hostage’s Brother
Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David, one of the Israeli hostages shown in a Hamas video, spoke during the UN meeting.

In the video, his brother looked extremely thin and sick. Ilay described his brother as a “living skeleton”, and begged the international community for help.

He said that “every moment of delay” could lead to more tragedy. He also shared how his father cannot sleep, and his mother cries every day, not knowing if her son is still alive.

 Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The war between Israel and Hamas has now been going on for 22 months.

In that time, over 60,000 Palestinians have died. Almost all of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and many people are now facing starvation. So far, over 188 people have died of hunger, including 94 children.

Ceasefire talks have collapsed, and aid trucks and supplies have been blocked. UN officials warn that if Israel expands its military operations, it could lead to even greater destruction, suffering, and loss of life.

 Tensions Inside the Israeli Government
Reports say that Israel’s security cabinet meeting, which was expected to discuss full occupation of Gaza, was postponed. This happened because some top military leaders strongly disagreed with the plan.

The army chief, Eyal Zamir, is said to be against a full takeover of Gaza. He may even resign if the government moves forward with it. Some members of Netanyahu’s own political alliance also believe the plan is too dangerous and could backfire.

Other former officials—including ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and a former intelligence chief—also criticized the idea as unrealistic and risky.

 Legal and Moral Concerns
UN leaders reminded everyone that international law does not allow the takeover or annexation of Gaza by force.

Experts explained that any move to permanently control the territory would go against global agreements and human rights rules.

Miroslav Jenca added that trying to expand the war would only cause more civilian deaths and destroy what little is left of Gaza’s infrastructure. He repeated that Gaza must remain part of Palestine’s future.

 Why the UN Is So Worried
Civilian Safety: A larger military operation could kill many more innocent people. With little food, clean water, or medicine, people are already barely surviving.

Hostages at Risk: If fighting spreads, it may put hostages in danger. Hamas could respond violently, and hostages could be caught in the crossfire.

Blocked Humanitarian Aid: More military activity could block aid trucks, making it even harder to get food, water, and medicine to people in need.

Political Fallout: Expanding the war could harm peace talks, increase global anger, and destroy any hope of a two-state solution.

 What Happens Next?

• Many people are closely watching to see what Israel will do next. Important questions include:
• Will Netanyahu’s cabinet go ahead with the expansion, or change course?
• Can hostage families and aid groups push world leaders to stop further violence?
• Will international pressure bring back peace talks or at least a temporary ceasefire?
• How will the Israeli army react if forced to carry out a plan they oppose?
• The next few days could shape the future of Gaza and the region for years to come.

Topic    Main Point

• UN reaction    Expansion plans are “deeply alarming”
• Risk to civilians    Many more deaths and starvation likely
• Hostages in danger    Their lives could be harmed by expanded conflict
• Legal concerns    Gaza must remain part of a future Palestinian state
• Israeli internal conflict    Some military leaders and ministers oppose the plan
• Humanitarian crisis    Aid blocked, food scarce, and starvation rising
• Global diplomacy    UN and China demand ceasefire and free humanitarian access

This situation is more than just a disagreement between governments. It is about life or death for millions of people, especially in Gaza, where hunger, disease, and fear are part of daily life.

If Israel expands its war into the rest of Gaza, the world may see more deaths, more destruction, and more chaos. The UN’s warning shows that many countries are hoping for peace and relief, not more violence.

Time is running out for diplomacy to work. The next steps by leaders on all sides could save lives—or cost more. The world is watching.