Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Friday that the Israeli occupation’s plan to militarily seize Gaza and forcibly displace its population “is further proof of the entity’s intent to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Palestinian people,” stressing that Iran “condemns this step in the strongest terms.”

Baghaei added that the United Nations “bears direct responsibility for stopping the criminal acts committed by Israel,” urging the international body to compel the Israeli occupation to halt the genocide and to immediately send urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza to end the catastrophe that “has shaken the foundations of law, standards, and ethics in human civilization.”

Call for emergency OIC meeting

The spokesperson called on the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Saudi Arabia as the host country, and Turkey as chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to hold an emergency meeting. He urged a united action by Muslim countries to support the Palestinian people in the face of ongoing aggression.

Earlier, the Israeli political-security cabinet approved, by majority vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan, which includes the Israeli military’s readiness to “take control” of Gaza City in the north of the Strip.

The plan outlines five main principles for ending the war: disarming Hamas, returning all captives, whether alive or deceased, fully disarming the Gaza Strip, imposing Israeli security control, and establishing an alternative civilian administration unaffiliated with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu plans to occupy Gaza

Sources close to Netanyahu said on Monday that a decision has been made to move toward a complete military occupation of the Gaza Strip, according to Channel 14. The sources added, “If the Chief of Staff is not on board, he can resign.”

During a briefing reported by Kan 11 broadcaster, Netanyahu’s office conveyed that the prime minister is determined to fully occupy the Gaza Strip in order to "settle the conflict with Hamas." Ministers in the Israeli government reportedly said the security cabinet is expected to convene soon to finalize the decision.

Internal rift: Chief of staff opposes full occupation

A senior official from Netanyahu’s office told Channel 12 that “Hamas will not release any more captives without full surrender. If we don't act now, the hostages will die of hunger, and Gaza will remain under Hamas control.”