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
Two Thirds of People Arrested by ICE in Minnesota Surge Had No Criminal Records, New Data Reveals
Take Action Now The White House had said all the thousands of people arrested were “dangerous criminal” immigrants.By Meghnad Bose and Luke…
BREAKING: Israel Approves Extreme Death Penalty Law Targeting Only Palestinians
Take Action Now Monday’s vote in the Knesset to impose a one-sided death penalty bill on Palestinians will further cement Israel’s system of…
‘Erasing The Lines’: How Settler Outposts Are Seizing New Regions of the West Bank
Take Action Now After decades consolidating their control over Area C, Israeli settlers are expanding into Areas B and A — nominally under…
Cory Booker Says Democrats Have ‘Failed This Moment’ And Calls For New Leaders
Take Action Now Senator’s comments come amid growing divisions within the party, which he says has ‘too small of a coalition’By José Olivares, The…