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NEW YORK CITY: The UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, on Friday called for an immediate halt to Israel’s plan for a full-scale military takeover of the Gaza Strip, warning that it could trigger further mass displacement, civilian suffering and violations of international law.

Israel’s security cabinet earlier signed off on a plan to seize control of Gaza City, marking an escalation in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The city, in the northern part of the territory, was its most densely populated urban center before the war and is still home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

The latest move by Israeli authorities drew strong criticism from the international community, with the leaders of several countries condemning the decision. The UN warned that the operation could trigger further large-scale displacement and increase civilian casualties.

The plan also faces sharp criticism within Israel itself, including from senior military figures and the families of hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during an interview with Fox News on Thursday, said Israel intended to temporarily occupy the entire Gaza Strip before eventually transferring control to unspecified Arab forces. Many details of the plan remain unclear.

Speaking from Geneva, Turk said the proposed escalation “runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible.” It undermines both the internationally supported pursuit of a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and the Palestinian right to self-determination, he added.

“On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes,” Turk said.

He reiterated demands for an end to the almost two-year war in Gaza, and called for both Israelis and Palestinians to be allowed to “live side by side in peace.”

Rather than escalating the conflict, Turk urged the Israeli government to instead focus on the protection of civilian lives by allowing the “full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid” into the besieged territory.

He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Palestinian armed groups, as well as the release of Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces.

BRUSSELS: Belgium said Friday that it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over Israel’s plans to “take military control” of the Palestinian territory of Gaza.