Israeli ex-minister decries ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza

Former Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya’alon has accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the Gaza Strip in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan.

Ya’alon, who was defence minister from 2013-2016, spoke of alleged Israeli plans to expel Palestinian residents from the northern Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there instead.

He said he was speaking on behalf of Israeli commanders deployed in northern Gaza who are very concerned about the situation.

“They are being put in life-threatening situations, they are facing moral dilemmas,” he said, adding that they could also face charges before the International Criminal Court.

Israel was committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, Ya’alon said.

His remarks were condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing conservative Likud party as “malicious lies.”

Far-right members of the Israeli government have repeatedly advocated for the return of Israeli settlers to the Gaza Strip, but this is not an official government policy.