'Israel' is committing ethnic cleansing in Gaza; ex-minister insists

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
Today 05:17

Former official, Moshe Ya'alon, doubles down and refuses to apologize for statements accusing "Israel" of ethnic cleansing.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Israeli Security Minister Moshe Ya'alon speak to the media during a press conference at the security ministry in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on August 2, 2014. (AP)

Former Security Minister, who served under current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu's government from 2013 to 2016, Moshe Ya'alon said that he will not apologize for accusing "Israel" of ethnically cleansing the northern Gaza Strip.

During an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, Ya'alon countered Israeli rhetoric regarding Israeli occupation forces (IOF), which claims that the IOF is "the most moral army in the world."

"I don’t say anymore [that the IOF is] the most moral army in the world," he said, pointing to political interference, which he believes is "corrupting the army."

"It’s not the most moral army today," he reiterated, adding that "it’s hard for me to say that."

Again, Ya'alon said that there is "no other word for" describing Israeli actions in the northern Gaza Strip except for ethnic cleansing, highlighting comments of government officials calling for the cleansing of Arabs in the territory.

When asked by the interviewer if he would like to take back his use of the phrase, Ya'alon underlined that he said it "on purpose to sound the alarm." However, Ya'alon did clarify that he is not charging the IOF with ethnic cleansing, rather he is charging Israeli politicians.

He believes that far-right politicians are instructing occupation forces to "carry out what are defined as war crimes," aiming at "evacuating" Palestinians in order to serve an ulterior motive of re-settlement in the Gaza Strip.

The former security minister also warned Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi, urging him to "pay attention" to what is happening around him.

He also said that the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and recently sacked security minister Yoav Gallant, has a list of other Israeli officials it will be investigating at a later date for war crimes.

Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, the finance and police ministers respectively, would be investigated for war crimes if it were up to him, Ya'alon added.