News Today: UN criticism of Israel Gaza control plan and Sri Lanka ceasefire call

Israel is facing mounting international criticism after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended plans to “take control” of Gaza City, describing it as the “best way” to end the war and eliminate Hamas control. Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu claimed the planned offensive would proceed “fairly quickly” and insisted Israeli hostages in Gaza were “the only ones being deliberately starved”, rejecting accusations that Israel was starving Gazans.

At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, ambassadors from the UK, France, Denmark, Greece, Slovenia, and others warned that the plan risked violating international humanitarian law and called for it to be reversed. China denounced the “collective punishment” of Gaza’s civilians, while Russia warned of a “reckless intensification of hostilities”.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca cautioned that implementing the plan could cause another humanitarian calamity in Gaza, sparking further displacement, killings, and destruction. UN humanitarian official Ramesh Rajasingham described the situation bluntly as “starvation, pure and simple”.

The United States, however, defended Israel, with Ambassador Dorothy Shea saying the US was working “tirelessly” to secure the release of hostages and end the war, and accusing some Council members of making false genocide claims.

Netanyahu’s office later confirmed he had spoken with US President Donald Trump about the plans. Thousands of protesters across Israel have voiced fears that the move endangers hostages’ lives.

The Israeli leader outlined a three-step humanitarian aid strategy, including safe aid corridors, increased airdrops, and more distribution points via the Gazan Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a group criticised for deadly incidents at aid sites.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism issued a statement expressing deep concern over Israel’s Gaza control plan. Colombo warned that such actions could escalate violence and worsen suffering, urging all sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire and resolve disputes through diplomatic talks aimed at achieving lasting peace.

The international community remains sharply divided over the next steps in Gaza, as pressure mounts for a ceasefire amid deepening humanitarian concerns.