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Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday strongly condemned Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza, calling it "a new phase of Israel's expansionist and genocidal policy in the region."
"We condemn in the strongest terms Israel's decision to expand its military operation in Gaza, which constitutes a new phase of Israel's expansionist and genocidal policy in the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the "fundamentalist Netanyahu government" is deepening the humanitarian crisis through its actions against Palestinians.
"Every step taken by the fundamentalist Netanyahu government to continue the genocide against Palestinians and expand the occupation deals a heavy blow to international peace and security, increases regional instability and further deepens the humanitarian crisis," the statement said.
Türkiye emphasized that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through adherence to international law and diplomatic solutions.
"Lasting peace in our region will only be possible through the supremacy of international law, the priority of diplomacy and the protection of fundamental human rights. Occupying Israel must immediately stop its war plans, accept a ceasefire in Gaza and begin negotiations towards a two-state solution," the ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry called on the international community and U.N. Security Council to take action against Israel's policies aimed at forcing Palestinian displacement.
"We call on the international community to fulfill their responsibilities and the U.N. Security Council to take binding decisions to prevent Israel's actions contrary to international law and humanitarian values, in order to prevent the implementation of this decision aimed at making Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing Palestinians from their own lands," the statement concluded.
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said implementing the Gaza occupation plan would require approximately 200,000 reserve troops, according to Israeli state television KAN.
Zamir said "approximately 200,000 reserve soldiers, most of whom have served long reserve duties, are needed for the Gaza occupation plan to be implemented both militarily and in terms of infrastructure."
The Chief of Staff said the plan requires "establishing hospitals for the civilian population and providing humanitarian aid in amounts that the army cannot currently distribute."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and establishing hospitals. Following this, Zamir suggested "removing the return of hostages in Gaza from war objectives."
According to Netanyahu's plan, Gaza City residents will be forcibly displaced southward, the city besieged, and additional attacks carried out on densely populated areas.
Following the cabinet decision, Zamir held a situation assessment meeting with senior commanders at Southern Command, addressing current Gaza attacks and plans for continuing operations.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz condemned Israel's Gaza occupation decision, calling for international action against what he termed a "cursed policy."
"Those who persistently continue the policy of genocide and occupation will sooner or later be held accountable before law and history, in the conscience of humanity," Yilmaz said, noting the decision targets "the entire Palestinian people."
"The humanity alliance must act without delay against this cursed policy. Effective sanctions should be on the agenda on all platforms, especially the UN," he added.
Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Spokesman Omer Celik called the decision "an attempt to occupy humanity," saying "the entire world must stand as one humanity front against this Nazi occupation."
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Israel should reconsider its decision to extend military operations in Gaza, calling for immediate hostage releases, humanitarian aid access, and ceasefire.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" and called on Israel to stop immediately. Spokesperson Guo Ciakun said "the only way to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is an urgent ceasefire," emphasizing "Gaza belongs to Palestinians."
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called Israel's plan "a wrong move" that "neither contributes to improving the humanitarian situation nor helps hostages return home."
Jordan's Foreign Ministry also condemned the plan, saying it "strongly rejects this plan, which uses blockade and hunger as weapons against the Palestinian people."
Palestinian officials and Hamas on Friday condemned Israel's decision to occupy Gaza City, calling it a war crime and a violation of international law.
The Palestinian Presidency said it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" the plan to occupy Gaza City and displace approximately one million Palestinians, describing it as "a continuation of genocidal policies, systematic killing, starvation and blockade."
Hamas warned that seizing Gaza City would amount to "sacrificing" the 50 hostages still held in Gaza, with only 20 believed alive.
"The decision to occupy Gaza confirms that the criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi government do not care about the fate of their captives," Hamas said, calling the plan "ethnic cleansing" that will come at a "high cost."
Hamas blamed the U.S. for providing "political cover and direct military support" for Israel's actions.
The Palestinian Presidency said it will appeal to the U.N. Security Council for "urgent and binding intervention" and called on President Trump to "intervene to stop the implementation of these decisions."
Israel's Security Cabinet approved the Gaza City occupation plan after withdrawing from Gaza in 2005 following a 38-year occupation.
Germany on Friday sharply criticized Israel's plans to occupy the Gaza Strip and announced a partial suspension of military exports, marking a major policy shift by one of Israel's staunchest allies.
"Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip," Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement.
The decision represents a significant change of course for the German government, which has been one of Israel's strongest international supporters throughout the conflict.
Merz noted that Germany has defended Israel's right to defend itself, supported hostage release initiatives, and advocated for Hamas disarmament, backing Israel throughout the conflict.
"The Israeli Cabinet's decision last night to pursue even harsher military action in the Gaza Strip makes it increasingly difficult, from the German government's perspective, to see how these goals will be achieved," Merz said.
Merz said it was "increasingly difficult to understand" how the Israeli military plan would help achieve the legitimate aims of disarming Hamas and freeing hostages.
"With the planned offensive, the Israeli government bears even greater responsibility" for providing aid to Gaza's civilians, he said, reiterating calls for comprehensive access for "UN organizations and other non-governmental institutions."
The German chancellor also urged "the Israeli government not to take any further steps toward annexing the West Bank."
Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Friday called Israel's decision to take over Gaza City a "diplomatic failure," criticizing the government's approach to the war.
"I am once again witnessing the diplomatic failure that is wasting the Israeli army's great achievements," Gantz said in a social media post.
Gantz suggested Israel should agree to a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the return of all hostages held in Gaza. He said Israel should "eliminate Hamas" by raiding its strongholds while ensuring no danger to hostages.
The former minister proposed establishing a new Gaza administration to manage civil affairs while Israel maintains security, and allowing Gaza residents to leave the enclave if they choose.
"We've been talking constantly about the day after — and (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu has not acted. Israel deserves a leadership that seizes opportunities, not a leadership that plays bunker and doesn't fully strive to bring the hostages home and decisively defeat Hamas," Gantz said.
Former Israeli minister Avigdor Liberman accused Netanyahu of making the decision to stay in power instead of ending the war and ensuring hostage returns.
"The decision taking by the cabinet, contrary to the professional stance of the chief of the general staff who warned of the many dangers such move entails, proves that decision that have to do with life and death are taken against security considerations and the war's objectives," Liberman said.
"The leader of the October 7 government once again sacrifices the security of Israel's citizens for his seat," he posted on social media.
International leaders Friday condemned Israel's decision to occupy Gaza City, with several countries calling it a violation of international law.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the decision "violates international law," telling SVT television: "I view the decision taken by the Israeli government with great concern. At a time when we need a ceasefire, this decision shows the opposite direction."
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the plan would worsen Gaza's "humanitarian disaster," calling on Israel to abandon the decision.
"Australia calls on Israel not to take this path that will further worsen the humanitarian disaster in Gaza," Wong said, emphasizing that forcibly displacing Palestinians violates international law.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the escalation plan one that "would only cause further destruction and suffering," demanding "a permanent ceasefire" and humanitarian aid access.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called Israel's decision "completely and utterly unacceptable," saying it "will create even more human suffering."
The Palestinian presidency announced it will take the issue to the UN Security Council, Arab League, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, calling the plan "a full-fledged war crime."
Palestinians made a direct appeal to President Trump to "intervene and prevent the implementation of Israel's decisions."
Israel's Security Cabinet approved the Gaza City occupation plan after a 10-hour meeting, with the operation expected to last at least six months.
Palestine's Foreign Ministry warned Friday that Israel's Security Cabinet approval of a plan to completely occupy Gaza City means "certain death" for Palestinians and called for international intervention.
The ministry said the occupation decision "reveals the true face of the war" that Israel continues against Palestinian civilians "without any justification," announcing the launch of a political, diplomatic and legal campaign with the international community against the catastrophic consequences of the Israeli cabinet's decisions.
The statement said the decision carries serious risks including "increased mass massacre attacks by Israel that threaten the survival chances of civilian Palestinians in Gaza, deepening hunger and imposing forced mass migration."
The ministry noted that more than 2 million people are being forced to migrate through various means by being squeezed into less than 10% of the region's area.
"Israel's decision to approve the occupation of Gaza City means 'certain death' for Palestinians," the Foreign Ministry said.
The statement emphasized that the U.N. Security Council's failure to immediately achieve a ceasefire, release Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees, protect civilians and stop the starvation policy has given the Israeli government the opportunity to implement genocide, deportation and annexation plans.
The ministry called for "real international intervention to achieve a ceasefire and protect civilians."
Israeli hostage families warned Friday that the cabinet's approval to take over Gaza means "abandoning the hostages" and will lead to a "colossal catastrophe" for the country's captives and soldiers.
"By choosing military escalation over negotiation, we are leaving our loved ones at the mercy of Hamas — an evil terrorist organization that systematically starves and abuses the hostages," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement.
Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive, according to the latest Israeli government data. Most of those freed so far emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations.
"The only way to bring the hostages home is through a comprehensive deal," the forum said, urging the Israeli public to stop the government in its "march of recklessness."
The forum said "the expansion of fighting only further endangers those still held in Gaza's tunnels" and accused the security cabinet of ignoring "repeated warnings from military leadership and the clear will of the majority of the Israeli public."
In its statement, the forum urged Israelis to "stop this dangerous course of action," adding that the Israeli government is "leading us toward a colossal catastrophe for both the hostages and our soldiers."
"The cabinet chose last night to embark on another march of recklessness, on the backs of the hostages, the soldiers, and Israeli society as a whole. But it is still not too late," the forum said.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Israel's plan for complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be urgently halted.
Turk issued a written statement regarding the Israeli military's plan to take full control of the Gaza Strip.
"The Israeli Government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted. It runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination," he noted.
"On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes," Turk added.
"The war in Gaza must end now. And Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live side by side in peace," the U.N. Commissioner said.
"Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza’s civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid," he added.
"The hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups. Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel must also be immediately and unconditionally released," Turk concluded.
Israel's Security Cabinet had approved a new plan to bring Gaza City, located in the northern Gaza Strip, under occupation. The Israeli Security Cabinet held a meeting Thursday evening to discuss the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip.
Before the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that they "aim to bring all of Gaza under control."
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday urged Israel to "reconsider immediately" its decision to intensify military operations in Gaza, warning the move will "only bring more bloodshed."
"The Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately," Starmer said in a Downing Street statement. "This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages."
Starmer called for "a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution," adding that Hamas "can play no part in the future of Gaza."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the Cabinet's Gaza decision Friday, calling it "a disaster that will lead to many more disasters."
Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of capitulating to far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City.
"In complete contradiction to the opinion of the military and security ranks, without considering the erosion and exhaustion of the fighting forces, Ben Gvir and Smotrich dragged Netanyahu into a move that will take months," Lapid said.
He warned that the decision would "lead to the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost tens of billions to the Israeli taxpayers, and lead to a political collapse."
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