UN chief urges immediate Gaza ceasefire as Israel moves on Gaza City

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as Israel pressed ahead with steps toward taking Gaza City, mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists and prompting large-scale civilian displacement. He urged the unconditional release of hostages and warned that a military operation against Gaza City would cause massive death and destruction. At the same time, Israel’s government signaled a push to rapidly advance its plans, while a separate initiative to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank drew sharp international and Palestinian criticism for further complicating any path to a two-state solution.

The Israeli military has intensified preparations for an assault on Gaza City, with the armed forces calling up about 60,000 reservists in the weeks ahead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated timelines for the operation were being shortened as troops moved to the city’s outskirts to reposition displaced residents toward southern Gaza. An Israeli military spokesperson described the next phase of operations, but did not offer a precise timetable. The moves come as the Gaza Strip, already devastated by weeks of...