UNITED NATIONS, United States, Aug 10, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A UN official on 
Sunday warned the Security Council that Israel's plans to control Gaza City 
risked "another calamity" with far-reaching consequences as Benjamin 
Netanyahu insisted his goal was not to occupy the territory.

The UN Security Council held a rare emergency weekend meeting after Israel 
said its military would "take control" of Gaza City approved by Prime 
Minister Netanyahu's security cabinet that sparked a wave of global 
criticism.

"If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in 
Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced 
displacement, killings, and destruction," UN Assistant Secretary Miroslav 
Jenca told the UNSC.

Slovenia's ambassador to the UN Samuel Zbogar, speaking on behalf of the five 
European members of the Security Council ahead of the meeting, said "this 
decision by the Israeli government will do nothing to secure the return of 
the hostages and risk further endangering their lives."

"It will also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza 
and risk further death and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians."

But Netanyahu said Sunday his country was "talking in terms of a fairly short 
timetable because we want to bring the war to an end," as he insisted Israel 
did not want to occupy Gaza.

Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said Friday that "this 
escalation by the Israeli government is going in total contradiction to the 
will of the international community."

The United States, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, 
is likely to seek to shield its staunch ally Israel from any practical 
measure of UN censure.

Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said ahead of the meeting "Israel 
will not stop fighting for the release of all the hostages -- and ensuring 
the safety and security of our citizens is our duty."