The United Nations' human rights chief joined several nations' leaders who have condemned Israel's plan to expand the military's control of the Gaza Strip.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said “this further escalation will result in more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction."

The wave of condemnation from European leaders, Arab nations and a group representing the families of hostages illustrated a widening gulf between Netanyahu’s government and much of the world as Israel’s 22-month war against Hamas intensifies and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens.