Former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon has stood by his comments that Israeli forces were committing war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
Ya’alon faced criticism in Israel on Saturday after he said Israeli troops were carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza.
“There is no Beit Lahia, there is no Beit Hanoun. They are operating in Jabalia and are essentially clearing the area of Arabs,” Ya’alon said in an interview with Democrat TV, describing the actions of Israeli forces.
“The path we are being dragged down is occupation, annexation and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip – population transfer, call it what you want, and Jewish settlements,” Ya’alon added.
Ya’alon was criticised by both current and former Israeli ministers.
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Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Ya’alon’s accusations “reckless and irresponsible”, urging the former army chief to “pull himself together”.
Former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who oversaw the war on Gaza, also criticised Ya’alon.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Gallant last month for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
“Ya’alon’s words are lies that help our enemy and harm Israel,” Gallant wrote on social media platform X.
“I suggest Ya’alon learn the facts, retract his statement, and apologise to IDF (Israeli army) fighters.”
Responding to the backlash on Sunday, Ya’alon said he would not retract his statement.
‘They are operating in Jabalia and are essentially clearing the area of Arabs’
– Moshe Ya’alon, Former Israeli defence minister
He said he made the claim based on information from commanders in the field.
He reiterated that Israeli forces were committing war crimes in Gaza.
Since the ongoing assault on northern Gaza began nearly two months ago, Israeli forces have been accused of mass killings, blocking aid and preventing medical teams from operating.
The Israeli military says it is working to prevent Hamas from regrouping in northern Gaza.
However, rights experts have accused Israel of attempting to ethnically cleanse the area of Palestinians, possibly as part of a plan to eventually declare northern Gaza a closed military zone.
Israeli forces have killed nearly 45,000 Palestinians in 14 months of war on Gaza, with 10,000 more missing and presumed dead under rubble.
Nearly 70 percent of victims are children and women, according to the UN.
