Reactions were swift. On Friday, August 8th, the entire world rejected Benjamin Netanyahu's terrible plan to Benjamin Netanyahu to "defeat" Hamas and "take control" of Gaza City. France condemned the Israeli government's plan for the Gaza Strip "in the strongest terms," emphasizing that it risks leading to "an absolute deadlock," according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It reiterated "its firm opposition to any plan for the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of its population" and added that the "full" occupation of Gaza "would worsen an already catastrophic situation," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, in a message posted on X.
For their part, the United States, as often, appears to offer tacit support for plans to expand the war against Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas threatens hostages
Earlier, Hamas had logically rejected the plan, denouncing it as a "new war crime" that "will cost Israel dearly." The Islamist organization also threatened its enemy, stating that the plan unveiled by Benjamin Netanyahu would mean the "sacrifice" of the hostages.
The first to react, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, called Israel's announced plan an "error" and urged Netanyahu's government to "reconsider it immediately." "This action will do nothing to end the conflict or secure the release of the hostages. It will only lead to more bloodshed," the British Prime Minister said in a statement.
Keir Starmer had announced at the end of July that his country was considering recognizing the State of Palestine in September, if Israel did not make a series of commitments, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In his August 8th statement, the British Prime Minister again referred to the "need" to end the war, as well as the necessity of increasing humanitarian aid and releasing "all hostages." He reiterated that London is working "with its allies" on a "long-term plan to guarantee peace in the region, within the framework of a two-state solution."
"Israel must end its occupation"
The plan adopted overnight by the Israeli security cabinet also drew a reaction from the United Nations. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated in a press release that Netanyahu's plan "aiming at a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately stopped." He criticized a policy that "goes against the International Court of Justice's decision that Israel must end its occupation as soon as possible, the achievement of the two-state solution, and the right of Palestinians to self-determination." He emphasized that this "new escalation" by Israel promises to lead to "even more massive forced displacements, more killings, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction, and atrocious crimes."
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, also strongly criticized Israel's plan, believing that "such a decision" should have "consequences" on the EU's relations with Israel. The leader described the situation in Gaza as "dramatic" and considered that the Israeli government's decision to take control of Gaza City would only "aggravate it further." The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called on Israel to "reverse its decision to extend its military operation in Gaza": "A ceasefire is needed immediately."
Iran, for its part, accused the State of Israel of "carrying out ethnic cleansing" in the Palestinian territory. Turkey also spoke out in the morning. Through a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged "the international community to assume its responsibilities to prevent the implementation of this decision, which aims to forcibly displace Palestinians from their own land by making Gaza uninhabitable."
For China, the plan is a source of "serious concern." The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on Israel to "immediately cease its dangerous actions," recalling that "Gaza belongs to the people of Palestine and is an integral part of Palestinian territory."