Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Former Israeli Defense Minister and military chief Moshe Ya’alon has asserted that Israeli forces are committing “ethnic cleansing” and “war crimes” in northern Gaza, adding they could face lawsuits at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
In an interview with Kan News, Ya’alon was asked if he was retracting his remarks that “Israel is committing ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”
“I stand by this statement,” Ya’alon responded.
“The problem is not with the IDF soldiers. I am speaking on behalf of commanders serving in Gaza. They are being put in danger, and they will be exposed to lawsuits at the International Criminal Court.”
“I am compelled to warn about what is happening there. War crimes are being committed. Never has a democratic state faced trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for such actions,” he added.
“What I said reflects the calls to reduce Gaza’s population and the push for the return of settlements to that area,” referring to statements and calls made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
On Saturday, Ya’alon told Democrat TV, “The path we are being dragged down is occupation, annexation and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip,”
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“Transfer, call it what you want, and Jewish settlements,” he said.
Visibly surprised, journalist Lucy Aharish asked, “You just used a phrase I never thought I’d hear from you—ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Is that really what you think? That we’re heading in that direction?”
Ya’alon responded, “Why on the way? What is happening there? What is happening there? There is no Beit Lahiya, there is no Beit Hanoun, they are currently operating in Jabalia and are essentially cleaning the area of Arabs.”
