Former Defense Minister Says Israel Is Conducting Ethnic Cleaning In Gaza

JAKARTA - Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Sunday reiterated his remarks regarding ethnic cleansing and ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

"I stick to my statement about Israel carrying out ethnic cleansing operations in Gaza. I speak on behalf of the people on duty in northern Gaza. War crimes are being carried out there," he said in an interview with Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Right" on Sunday, quoted from WAFA December 1.

Ya'alon further stressed, "What I said reflects calls for reducing Gaza's population and the push for the return of settlements to the area," referring to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's statement.

He added, "I was forced to warn about what happened there. War crimes are being committed. No democratic country has ever been tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for such actions."

Earlier, Ya'alon revealed in an interview on Saturday that Israel was carrying out a genocide campaign in northern Gaza. According to an Israeli broadcast, he stated: "We are doing ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza. There is no longer Beit Lahia or Beit Hanoun."

Quoted from Anadolu, Ya'alon served as Israeli Defense Minister from 2013 to 2016.

On November 21, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing genocide cases at the International Court over its deadly war in Gaza.

Separately, Gaza's health authorities confirmed on Sunday that the death toll from the Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023 has risen to 44,429 fatalities, while injuries have risen to 105,250, the majority being women.