NEW YORK (Dispatches) -- The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Sunday amid mounting global alarm over Israel’s expanding invasion of Gaza City, which threatens to unleash “another calamity” on the besieged territory and the wider region. 
Despite international condemnation, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that his aggressive military campaign was aimed at “freeing Gaza” and defeating Hamas, not occupying the territory — a claim widely challenged by observers and humanitarian officials.
At the heart of the crisis is Israel’s announcement that its forces will “take control” of Gaza City, a densely populated area where millions of Palestinians are trapped under relentless bombardment and strict blockade. The plan, endorsed by Netanyahu’s security cabinet, has drawn sharp rebukes from the United Nations and foreign governments, which warn that the escalation will deepen civilian suffering, cause further displacement, and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
“If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction,” said Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General, addressing the Security Council. 
The humanitarian toll of the invasion is already staggering, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting that nearly 100 Palestinian children have died from acute malnutrition since the conflict began last October, a figure that underscores the severe deprivation caused by Israel’s blockade and military operations.
“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis — this is starvation, pure and simple,” warned Ramesh Rajasingham, OCHA’s coordination director. 
Hospitals and aid organizations in Gaza describe a “death trap” for civilians, many of whom are forced to queue under fire for food aid, only to face lethal violence. 
At least 31 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while attempting to access humanitarian aid, including families waiting near Israeli-controlled corridors for essential supplies.
The Israeli military’s campaign, presented as a targeted fight against Hamas, has instead resulted in widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and civilian neighborhoods. 
Gaza’s Health Ministry, administered by Hamas but staffed by medical professionals, reports a staggering death toll exceeding 61,000 Palestinians, nearly half of whom are women and children. These figures, widely regarded as the most reliable in the war on Gaza, reflect the devastating human cost of Israel’s invasion and blockade.
Amid the crisis, Netanyahu reiterated his intent to “bring the war to an end” on a “fairly short timetable”.
However, critics contend this rhetoric masks a de facto occupation and aggressive siege that has trapped Gaza’s population in a humanitarian nightmare.
Netanyahu’s announcement to allow limited access to foreign journalists — who have long been barred from reporting independently from Gaza — appears aimed at countering mounting international scrutiny, though the military will accompany reporters, raising concerns about censorship and control of information.
The United States, a key ally and veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, defended Israel’s actions, dismissing accusations of war crimes or genocide as “lies.” In contrast, numerous countries and UN officials condemned 
the invasion as collective punishment, warning it risks escalating the conflict beyond Gaza.
“Collective punishment of people in Gaza is unacceptable,” said a representative from China. Russia also urged restraint, cautioning against “reckless intensification of hostilities” that could destabilize the region further. Algeria’s ambassador to the UN called for sanctions against Israel, declaring, “The hour has come to impose sanctions on the enemy of humanity.”
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, described the invasion as “illegal and immoral,” emphasizing that over two million Palestinians are “enduring unbearable agony” under siege. He called for greater international efforts to protect civilians and allow unfettered access for humanitarian aid and foreign journalists.
As the invasion continues, the humanitarian situation deteriorates rapidly. Malnutrition-related deaths among Palestinian children have surpassed 100 since the war began, with hundreds more adults succumbing to starvation amid blockades and disrupted aid deliveries. Hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies critically low, and basic services failing under constant Israeli bombardment.
Amid this human catastrophe, voices within Israel express growing unease. Families of captives held by Hamas have called for labor strikes in protest of the ongoing military operations that they fear will jeopardize their loved ones’ lives. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue military aggression in the occupied West Bank, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians in what has been described as the largest displacement in the area since 1967.
The international community faces mounting pressure to halt the Israeli violence and hold the regime accountable for its aggression in Gaza. As Israel presses ahead with its invasion, many warn that without urgent intervention, Gaza’s humanitarian disaster will deepen, fueling further instability and suffering in the region.