Israel's former defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, sparked controversy on Saturday by accusing the Israeli army of engaging in "ethnic cleansing" in the Gaza Strip. In an interview with private channel DemocratTV, Yaalon stated, "The road we are being led down is conquest, annexation, and ethnic cleansing."
When pressed on his use of the term "ethnic cleansing," Yaalon elaborated, citing the destruction of Palestinian towns in northern Gaza: "There is no more Beit Lahia, no more Beit Hanoun. The army intervenes in Jabalia, and in reality, the land is being cleared of Arabs."
The areas Yaalon referred to have been the focal points of a heavy Israeli military offensive since October 6, aimed at preventing Hamas militants from regrouping. The accusation has drawn widespread debate within Israel, with critics questioning the army's tactics in Gaza.
Yaalon, 74, was the head of the Israeli army between 2002 and 2005, just before Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
He served as defence minister and deputy premier before resigning in 2016 over disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
There was immediate anger in Israel at his comments.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said it was a "shame" for Israel to "have had such a figure as army chief and defence minister".
Netanyahu's Likud party, to which Yaalon once belonged, slammed his "empty and dishonest remarks", calling them "a gift to the ICC and to the camp of Israel's enemies".
The statement was a reference to the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his ex-defence minister Yoav Gallant on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.
The war in the Palestinian territory erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,207 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has claimed the lives of 44,382 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which the UN has deemed reliable.
Earlier this month, a UN special committee described the war's devastating toll on civilians, highlighting "mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians." The committee also stated that Israel's actions in Gaza "are consistent with the characteristics of genocide," marking the first time the term has been used by the UN in reference to the current conflict.
Israel has strongly rejected the UN's assessment, calling it "anti-Israel fabrications." The dispute over these claims continues to fuel international controversy over the conduct of the war.
Source: Khaleej Times
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
