Protesters at the Lower House in the Hague on Thursday. AFP
On Thursday, nearly two years into the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza and with 2.3 million Palestinians facing famine under a five-month-long deadly blockade, Israel’s security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy the Strip.
On Friday, the Arab League, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia issued statements denouncing the move.
The UK, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Australia also condemned the plan in a joint statement, warning it risked breaching international law and endangering both civilians and captives.
“The plans that the government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law,” the statement read.
“Any attempts at annexation or settlement extension violate international law. It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.”
The signatories said a “worst-case scenario” of mass famine was already unfolding.
In Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Germany would indefinitely halt exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Belgium summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the plan.
In the Netherlands, caretaker foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Nederlands Dagblad that Israel's plan is “a wrong move” but resisted MPs’ demands for broader sanctions.
However, earlier Friday, Veldcamp confirmed the withdrawal of three licences for naval ship components bound for Israel.
In tandem, European Council chief Antonio Costa on Friday criticised Israel's plan to take over Gaza City and expel the Palestinians warning "such a decision must have consequences" for EU-Israel ties.
"I strongly urge the Israeli government to reconsider its decision," Costa, who heads the body representing the bloc's 27 states, wrote on X.
"Such a decision must have consequences for EU-Israel relations, to be assessed by the Council", made up of the leaders of the European Union member states, he said.
"The situation in Gaza remains dramatic, and the decision by the Israeli government will only further worsen it," Costa added.
US backs Israel
Before Israel’s announcement, US President Donald Trump told reporters he was focused on increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza's starving population, but added: “As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say — that’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.”
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that stance, telling Catholic TV network EWTN: “Ultimately, what Israel needs to do for Israel’s security will be determined by Israel.”
Their comments reflect Washington’s broad endorsement of Israel’s military expansion, following US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Tel Aviv last week, where he claimed “no one was starving” in Gaza.
While the US has pressed Israel to allow more aid into the strip, it has also insisted that all Israeli captives — dead or alive — be freed.
“Our goals are very clear,” Vice President JD Vance said on Friday after talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “We want to make it so that Hamas cannot attack innocent Israeli civilians ever again, and we think that has to come through the eradication of Hamas.”
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has offered Israel ironclad backing while urging improvements in humanitarian access.
The US president has largely abandoned efforts to broker a ceasefire, particularly after negotiations collapsed late last month when the US and Israel withdrew from indirect talks with Hamas that were mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
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