International leaders have condemned Israel’s decision to take control of Gaza City, with many calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. The move has sparked widespread outrage, with nine countries including Germany, Britain, France, and Canada rejecting the operation as a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation” that will worsen the humanitarian situation.
The new criticism comes as 11 Palestinians seeking aid were killed by Israeli forces in southern and central Gaza, according to health officials. The deaths bring the total number of Palestinian casualties in the war to over 61,000, with many more dying from malnutrition-related causes.
Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages in exchange for the war’s end and Israeli withdrawal. The proposals have been met with skepticism by Israel, which claims it is unaware of the incidents where aid-seekers were killed.
The international community has also expressed concern over Israel’s alleged involvement in diverting aid from the U.N.-led system, which denies such accusations. The issue has led to widespread criticism of Israel’s handling of the crisis, with some calling for a general strike to pressure the government to change its stance.
As temperatures soar above 90 degrees F in Gaza, families struggle to access basic necessities like food and water. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with many more deaths from hunger expected in the coming days. The U.N. Security Council is set to meet on Sunday to discuss the crisis.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/09/israel-gaza-witkoff-00501345