“A complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted,” insisted Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
On Friday the Israeli Security Cabinet released a 5 point plan for a military take over of Gaza.
This is yet another escalation in Israel’s Gaza Genocide and would be an illegal act.
Starvation continues to kill the people of Gaza as humanitarian aid trickles in. UN agencies confirmed the deaths of three Palestinians from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Two of those deaths were of children. There are 64 cases of this rare auto-immune disease which can cause sudden muscle weakness and even paralysis. Before October 2023, only a handful of cases surfaced every year in Gaza. GBS requires immediate hospitalisation. With the devastation of the medical infrastructure in Gaza that is not possible for all the cases that are now arising.
The famine continues. Airdrops are not sufficient to deliver the food and aid required to feed a starving population of over 2 million people. This is an engineered famine – a main component of Israel’s campaign to eradicate the civilian population of Gaza.
There is a critical shortage of antibiotics which has hampered treatment of meningitis, whose numbers are now in the hundreds – “the highest number recorded since the beginning of the escalation”, state OCHA.
Disease, starvation, untreated medical conditions all require immediate treatment, however, the highest number of those accessing medical care are suffering from injuries due to explosive weapons – 83%. People trying to get food are still being deliberately targeted by Israeli and US backed snipers at the ironically named ‘Humanitarian Foundation’ aid centres, where people are corralled into narrow fenced compound corridors.
UN experts who have called for the dismantling of the privately run Israeli/US organisation, said:
“The GHF, a non-governmental organisation created by Israel in February 2025, with US support, to allegedly distribute aid in Gaza, is an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law.
“The entanglement of Israeli intelligence, US contractors and ambiguous non-governmental entities underlines the urgent need for robust international oversight and action under UN auspices.”
“Under any circumstances, when war crimes are overlooked in exchange for temporary relief, impunity can become normalised. Yet, in this case, we are leaving a State accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in charge of feeding the population affected by the genocide without oversight and with impunity.
“This overt hypocrisy is disturbing.”
European and World leaders have condemned Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza. Germany, one of its biggest arms providers now halting all military components to Israel which can be used in Gaza.
First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney said:
“The decision of the Israeli Government to seize control of Gaza City is completely and utterly unacceptable. It will create even more human suffering for the Palestinian people and further escalate the conflict. The international community must stop Israel and secure a ceasefire.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a muted response asking the Israelis to ‘reconsider’ their plan to take over Gaza.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, added:
“Israel’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong and we urge it to reconsider immediately.”
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.”
In Orkney Peace campaigners who have stood in vigil every Saturday since the end of October 2023 will again meet on the Kirk Green today, 9 August, from 1 to 2pm. They are calling for an immediate ceasefire, the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages. They invite all who share in their hopes for an end to the Gaza Genocide to join with them.
Although Israel has obliterated much of Gaza, and forced the displacement of over 90 per cent of the population, thousands of more Israeli soldiers will be needed to completely take over Gaza. This comes as there is an alarming increase in the number of Israeli soldiers committing suicide and others suffering mental health distress. This will not deter Netanyahu, still with an International Arrest Warrant out for him for the war crimes he has been responsible for in Gaza.
Sixteen Israeli soldiers committed suicide since the beginning of 2025, bringing the total number of suicides in the military to 54 since the genocide in Gaza began in October 2023, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.
The report said the latest figures include eight active-duty soldiers, seven reservists and one career soldier. In 2024, 21 soldiers died by suicide, and in 2023, the number was 17.
… nearly 3,770 soldiers have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)…Of the 19,000 soldiers wounded since the carnage began, roughly 10,000 are experiencing psychological symptoms – TRT Global
As world leaders continue to wring their hands and publish statements condemning Israel’s latest plan, the starvation continues as in the last few weeks there were another 180 deaths due to malnutrition, including 93 children.
Fiona Grahame