Pyongyang: North Korea accused Israel on Thursday of explicitly seeking to seize Palestinian territories, criticizing its renewed strikes on the Gaza Strip. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the commentary after the Israeli army renewed a deadly assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas that took hold in January.

According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the military "will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza - as in Lebanon and Syria." Israel's actions have included closing Gaza's crossings since March 2, effectively blocking the entry of essential supplies into the enclave.

KCNA denounced Israel for harboring "ambitions to steal territory," asserting that the country is no longer hiding its intention to dominate Palestine. The agency also accused the US of effectively ordering Israel's complete occupation of Gaza, referencing remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting that Gaza would be turned over to the US at the conclusion of the war.

The North Korean commentary described the military actions by US-backed Israel as "reckless," asserting that they clearly demonstrate who is responsible for the destruction of global peace and security. It highlighted the dire human toll, reporting that at least 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, most of whom were women and children.

The International Criminal Court has taken action, issuing arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Furthermore, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.