By Paul R. Pillar, Responsible Statecraft
The Israeli effort to eliminate or expel Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip — an effort that has been apparent since early in Israel’s year-long military assault on the territory — is close to achieving its goal in the northernmost portion of the Strip.
Israeli officials have also let slip more indications that this is indeed their goal. Last week a brigadier general in the Israeli Defense Forces told Israeli journalists that in expelling residents from this area, which includes the city of Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp, the IDF had no intention of ever letting them return. The general added that Israel would allow no humanitarian aid into this portion of the Strip because “there are no more civilians left.”
An IDF spokesperson later tried to walk back the general’s comments, and the Israeli government has repeatedly denied conducting forced expulsions. But reports of what is happening on the ground, despite Israeli measures to impede press reporting from the conflict zone, are consistent with an ethnic cleansing campaign. Reporters from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz were able to confirm the forcible expulsions. Other reporting has confirmed an absence of aid entering northern Gaza, with the resulting prospect of famine.
The dominant images from northern Gaza are partly the ones that became familiar a year ago, of buildings reduced to rubble, and pictures of residents walking away from their homes with what few possessions they can carry. The latter images resemble those from an earlier Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians—the Nakba of 1948.
Despite Israeli denials, what is happening appears to be a version of the “generals’ plan,” a proposal presented to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in September and subsequently leaked. That proposal calls for cutting off supplies to the portion of the Gaza Strip in question and telling all who live there that they must leave or be considered combatants subject to attack.
Recent Posts
Why Medicare for All Is Now Possible
Take Action Now The politics of health care are finally catching up with patients and physicians.By Rebecca Delay, The Progressive Across the…
According to Polls, Americans Like Socialism a Lot
Take Action Now A crop of recent polls shows that socialism’s appeal is surprisingly broad. They also reflect a transformed US political landscape…
Massive Ivanka Trump Problem Triggers Existential Threat to GOP: ‘Rage Is Building’
Take Action Now Locals in Albania — where Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner plan to transform one of the nation’s most important ecological sites…
Vance-Led Task Force Moves to Strip 760,000 People of ACA Coverage
Take Action Now Protect Our Care says about 8 million people have lost coverage since the start of Trump’s second termBy Ruth Milka, Nation of…