The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, demanded on 8 August that Israel “immediately halt” its newly approved plan to seize full military control of Gaza City. Türk said the move would violate an International Court of Justice ruling and lead to “more massive displacement, killing and atrocity crimes,” urging Israel instead to allow unfettered humanitarian relief and the release of hostages held by Palestinian armed groups. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the appeal, telling reporters that Israel should reconsider the expanded operation and guarantee “immediate and unhindered” aid access. Her remarks were reinforced by a joint communiqué from the foreign ministers of eight European nations—including Spain, Norway, Ireland and Portugal—warning that deeper military action would worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, endanger hostages and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. Growing diplomatic pressure prompted the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on 10 August. While the Council stopped short of adopting a resolution, members across regional blocs criticised the takeover plan and urged Israel to reverse course. A ministerial committee representing the recent Joint Arab-Islamic Summit also condemned the initiative and called for an immediate, comprehensive cease-fire and a reconstruction programme for the enclave. Humanitarian agencies say conditions in Gaza are already catastrophic. The World Health Organization reported on 12 August that 148 people have died from malnutrition this year, nearly 12,000 children under five suffered acute malnutrition in July alone, and more than half of essential medicines are out of stock. Major hospitals are running at up to 300 percent of bed capacity. The WHO and the World Food Programme urged Israel to open all crossings and allow at least 100 aid trucks a day to stem what 24 foreign ministers and senior EU officials called “unimaginable” suffering. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) disputed the UN assessments, saying an internal review found “no signs of widespread malnutrition” and attributing reported deaths to pre-existing medical conditions. International diplomats, however, maintain that bureaucratic hurdles and security restrictions continue to impede relief deliveries and that further military escalation would deepen the crisis.