Palestinian watch as a plume of smoke rises during an Israeli strike on Gaza City's southern al-Zeitoun neighbourhood. AFP
UN
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said the plan must be "immediately halted".
He said Israel should instead allow "the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid", and Palestinian armed groups must unconditionally release captives.
EU
"The Israeli government's decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on X.
She called for a ceasefire, the release of all captives and "immediate and unhindered access" for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Hamas
Hamas denounced the Israeli government's plan as "a new war crime that the occupation army intends to commit against" Gaza and warned that the operation would "cost it dearly".
UK
"This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
It would, he said, "only bring more bloodshed".
China
"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory," a foreign ministry spokesperson told AFP.
"The correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to secure the release of hostages is an immediate ceasefire."
Germany
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was "increasingly difficult to understand" how the Israeli military plan would help achieve legitimate aims.
"Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice," he added.
Turkey
Turkey urged global pressure to halt the plan.
"We call on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities to prevent the implementation of this decision, which aims to forcibly displace Palestinians from their own land," said a foreign ministry statement.
Spain
"We firmly condemn the decision of the Israeli government to escalate the military occupation of Gaza," said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. "It will only cause more destruction and suffering."
He added that "a permanent ceasefire, the immediate and massive entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages are urgently needed".
Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on X that the Israeli ambassador had been summoned to express "our total disapproval of this decision".
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia on Friday slammed Israel for its war crimes and plan to take over Gaza City, lambasting the ongoing "starvation" and "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in the blockaded territory.
In a statement posted on X, Riyadh said it "condemns in the strongest and most forceful terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip," adding that Israel continues "committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people."
Jordan
A statement issued by the Royal Court said King Abdullah condemned a move "which undermines the two-state solution and the rights of the Palestinian people".
Egypt
Egypt strongly condemned Israel's decision to fully occupy Gaza, describing it as an effort to "entrench the illegal Israeli occupation" and "continue the campaign of extermination."
In a foreign ministry statement, Cairo warned that the plan aims to destroy Palestinian life, undermine their right to self-determination, and extinguish hopes for an independent state, effectively "liquidating the Palestinian cause."
Egypt called on the international community, including the UN Security Council, to act urgently against Israel's "reckless and forceful policies" that undermine peace, reaffirming that lasting security depends on establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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