Washington — The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has sharply rebuked Israel’s cabinet decision to impose full military and administrative control over the Gaza Strip, branding it a direct affront to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and a dangerous escalation in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In an unusually blunt statement, the OHCHR warned that the plan represents a “clear-cut violation” of a binding ICJ ruling that ordered Israel to end its occupation and cease actions contributing to the humanitarian catastrophe. The UN body said the move will not only deepen the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza but also entrench policies of forced displacement, targeted assassinations, and collective punishment.
The announcement follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet approval of a blueprint that eliminates any role for Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s governance, consolidating Israeli control in both military and civil spheres. Critics say the plan shreds any remaining illusions about Israel’s intentions, revealing what human rights advocates have long argued: Tel Aviv is determined to annex Gaza through brute force, in defiance of international law.
Diplomatic observers note that Israel’s decision signals open contempt for global legal institutions, reinforcing the perception that it acts with impunity so long as it enjoys unwavering protection from the United States and certain Western allies. For Palestinians, the development underscores what they describe as an international failure to enforce rulings meant to protect civilian populations from war crimes.
Legal scholars warn that the defiance could set a precedent encouraging other states to ignore ICJ judgments, undermining the court’s credibility. The OHCHR urged immediate intervention by the international community, emphasizing that allowing Israel to proceed unchecked will accelerate the humanitarian collapse in Gaza and further destabilize the region.
According to Mehr News Agency, the OHCHR linked Israel’s plan directly to violations of the ICJ’s July ruling and pressed for urgent measures to stop the war, ensure humanitarian aid delivery, and hold the regime accountable for the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
