Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (Labour) has condemned Israel's latest military offensive in Gaza City as "reckless and appalling". The criticism comes as Israeli forces launched a ground assault on the Palestinian territory's largest city.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that "Gaza is burning" following heavy overnight strikes that preceded the ground operation. Residents remaining in Gaza City were warned by Israeli forces to evacuate and move south as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) advanced into the area.
UK Officials Respond
Cooper took to social media platform X to express her strong opposition to the military action. "The new IDF assault on Gaza is utterly reckless and appalling," she said. "It will only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians & endanger the remaining hostages."
The Foreign Secretary called for "an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a path to lasting peace". Middle East minister Hamish Falconer echoed these concerns, stating: "This action must be stopped. The expansion of military operations will only take away hope for the hostages and promise yet more misery for Gazans who have suffered so much."
UN Genocide Findings
The military offensive coincided with damning conclusions from a United Nations panel of independent experts. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Commission chairwoman Navi Pillay accused Benjamin Netanyahu's government of orchestrating systematic destruction. "It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention," she said. "The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
