As other countries, like Germany and UK show their displeasure, Portugal is calling for Israel to suspend its decision to occupy Gaza, and instead implement a ceasefire.
“The Portuguese Government is deeply concerned about the Israeli Government’s new plan to occupy Gaza,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE), in a statement published on the social network X.
For the executive, the decision by Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiercely right-wing government “jeopardises ceasefire efforts and worsens the humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza, where more than two million Palestinians are living in deplorable conditions.
The plan, the statement from the ministry led by Paulo Rangel adds, “must be suspended, (must) give way to a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the urgent entry of aid.”
Israel’s security cabinet however has appeared deaf to all these entreaties. This morning following a 10-hour meeting through the night, it approved the proposal for the military occupation of Gaza City, in the north of the enclave.
The plan initially touted by Netanyahu outlined the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip – albeit he insisted Israel was not intending to occupy Gaza permanently. It will be ‘handed over to Arab forces’ once Israel has annihilated Hamas, he said.
Unsurprisingly, there has been an outcry, from the families of the remaining Israeli hostages, from the Palestinian National Authority and from several governments. Hamas too has inferred that Israel’s decision is ‘sacrificing’ the hostages that have already survived 22 months in captivity.
Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany is halting the sale of arms to Israel that might be used in this military occupation, while the UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer is urging a re-think.
The United Nations has also condemned the plan, as has the Israeli opposition led by Yair Lapid, who has dubbed the decision “a disaster that will lead to many more disasters”.
This is the latest chapter in the war that broke out following Hamas’ massacre of Jewish people in settlements close to the border with Gaza on a weekend when the government had given many border guards leave of absence.
Israel’s roadmap to occupying Gaza city is not instant: October 7 being the date set, thus there is still a great deal that can change.
Unfortunately, however, Mr Netanyahu’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that Israel “will erase the Palestinian State” by re-establishing settlements in the West Bank, where several atrocities committed by right-wing Jewish settlers have already shocked the civilised world.
Source material: Lusa, etc.
