(MENAFN) North Korea sharply criticized Israel’s plan to militarily invade and fully occupy the Gaza Strip, labeling the move a blatant violation of international law, state media reported Tuesday.

“A ‘decision’ of the Israeli Cabinet on the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip of Palestine is a clear act of violating international law,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told North Korean media.

The remarks followed Israel’s Security Cabinet approval last Friday of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s phased strategy to seize full control of Gaza.

The spokesperson stated that this decision “plainly shows Israel's gangster-like intention to seize the internationally recognized territory of Palestine,” emphasizing that the enclave remains an integral part of Palestinian land.

Pyongyang’s official added: “bitterly denounces and rejects Israel's criminal act of seizing territory, which aggravates the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and wantonly violates peace and stability in the Middle East region.”

“We strongly demand that Israel immediately stop the illegal armed attack on Palestinians and completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip,” the statement urged.

Israel is under increasing international scrutiny for its devastating war in Gaza, where nearly 61,600 people have been killed since October 2023.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide lawsuit at the International Court of Justice over its ongoing conflict in the enclave.

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