France, Aug. 8 -- The Israeli government's plan for a full-scale military takeover ofGazawill cause more deaths and suffering and must be halted immediately, the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Friday.

The plan runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination, Turk said in a statement.

Israel's political-security cabinetapproveda plan early on Friday to take control ofGazaCity, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war.

Former...