Former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, a former army chief of staff, has accused Israel of committing war crimes and engaging in ethnic cleansing in Gaza, echoing allegations made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
Yaalon specifically pointed to actions in northern Gaza, accusing Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet of attempting to remove Palestinians from the region while planning to re-establish Jewish settlements there. He warned that these actions were part of a broader agenda of conquest and annexation.
Yaalon’s comments have sparked significant controversy, with Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissing the accusations as “slanderous lies,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called them baseless. Yaalon, who served as defense minister from 2013 to 2016, has long been a critic of Netanyahu’s policies.
In his interview, Yaalon stated that Israeli military actions, such as the destruction of towns like Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon and the military intervention in Jabalia, were signs that the land was being “cleared of Arabs,” a reference to ethnic cleansing. He described the current trajectory as a dangerous path toward territorial expansion and permanent displacement of Palestinians.
These remarks from Yaalon come amid increasing international scrutiny of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of war crimes related to the ongoing conflict.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Accuses Netanyahu Cabinet of War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza
Meanwhile, Palestinian voices, including historian Rashid Khalidi, have labeled the violence in Gaza as genocidal, calling it the worst phase of Palestinian history. Since October 2023, Israel has intensified airstrikes in northern Gaza, claiming to target Hamas fighters while causing widespread civilian displacement.
The Israeli military’s offensive, which began in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, has led to the deaths of over 44,000 Palestinians, with many more wounded. The destruction in Gaza has left countless civilians without shelter, as entire neighborhoods are obliterated.
International organizations, including the United Nations, have condemned Israel’s military tactics, citing the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the siege of Gaza. The region continues to suffer from severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
On the Israeli side, there has been growing support from certain political leaders for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza, a stance championed by Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf. He framed the rebuilding of settlements as both a response to the October 7 attacks and a countermeasure to the ICC’s legal actions.
However, most of the international community, including European powers and the United Nations, views these settlements as illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace in the region. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned Israel’s actions, calling them part of a genocidal campaign, and urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
