RAMALLAH – The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Saturday issued a scathing condemnation of the Israeli government’s decision to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip, calling the move a dangerous escalation and a blow to peace efforts. The PA also called on the international community to intervene urgently and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh described Israel’s latest actions as “an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability.” He urged the United Nations Security Council and other global actors to act swiftly to halt Israeli aggression and ensure that much-needed aid reaches Gaza’s two million residents.
“We call on the international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip,” Abu Rudeineh said in his statement.
Palestinian Authority Pushes for Humanitarian Access Amid Israeli Offensive
The Palestinian Authority, which administers limited parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, emphasized the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where shortages of food, medical supplies, and clean water have reached catastrophic levels. The PA, originally intended to be a transitional body leading to a future Palestinian state, currently has no governing presence in the Gaza Strip, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2007.
While the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have been at odds politically and administratively for years, the latest developments have seen the Palestinian Authority seeking a more prominent role in international diplomacy to address the Gaza conflict and assert its legitimacy as a representative of the Palestinian people.
The West Bank, home to about three million Palestinians and nearly half a million Israeli settlers, remains under partial administrative control by the PA. However, the worsening conflict in Gaza continues to dominate the Palestinian political discourse, placing pressure on the PA to act.
Early Friday, Israel’s security cabinet approved a controversial plan to launch a major ground operation aimed at seizing control of Gaza City, the heart of the densely populated territory. The move has been widely condemned by international leaders and human rights organizations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing intense political pressure at home, remains firm in his stance. Responding to critics on Friday night, Netanyahu posted on social media, stating, “We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
Despite these claims, critics argue that the operation will further escalate the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of famine-like conditions and the collapse of civil infrastructure.
On Saturday, a joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, condemning Israel’s plans to enter Gaza City.
“This will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and increase the risk of a mass exodus of civilians,” the joint statement read.
The foreign ministers also echoed the concerns voiced by the Palestinian Authority, warning that continued military action without a diplomatic framework undermines any prospect for a long-term peace deal or two-state solution.
According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict in October 2023. The United Nations has stated that these figures are credible, though they remain unverified due to limited access.
The war began following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, based on an AFP tally compiled from official Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a prolonged and wide-scale offensive that has devastated much of the Gaza Strip.
With Israel’s latest decision to advance into Gaza City, humanitarian agencies warn that the situation could deteriorate further, potentially displacing hundreds of thousands more civilians.
In the face of deepening crisis, the Palestinian Authority is working to reassert its political relevance and international standing. Officials have hinted that the PA could play a leading role in post-war Gaza governance—if a ceasefire and reconstruction plan are brokered.
However, divisions between Palestinian factions, the absence of a unified leadership, and international skepticism regarding the PA’s effectiveness remain major challenges.
Still, with Gaza on the brink of collapse and global criticism of Israeli policy mounting, the Palestinian Authority is urging world powers not only to push for immediate humanitarian access but to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts aimed at ending decades of occupation and achieving a two-state solution.
Source- EWN
