Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his government’s plan to seize control of Gaza City is the “best way” to end the ongoing war, a statement that has drawn swift international attention and triggered an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking on Saturday, Netanyahu outlined a “fairly short timetable” for implementing the next steps in Gaza. His remarks come as Israel’s air and ground offensive continues to displace most of Gaza’s population and push the territory to the brink of famine.

Humanitarian concerns are mounting, with two more Palestinian children reported dead from malnutrition-related causes over the weekend. The child death toll in Gaza has now reached 100 since the war began.

The UN’s urgent meeting is expected to address both the humanitarian crisis and the political implications of Israel’s planned military expansion in the densely populated city.