Former Israeli army chief admits disregard for international law in attacks on Gaza.
Herzi Halevi revealed to The Guardian that he faced no legal restrictions during the military offensive that left tens of thousands dead in Gaza.
247 - The British newspaper The Guardian This Friday (13) revealed shocking statements from the former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Halevi, about the war in Gaza. In an interview, Halevi admitted that the armed forces acted without any regard for international law throughout the offensive that has lasted almost two years. The information was reported by the Hispantv portal.
“This is not a mild war. We have been firm from the first minute,” stated Halevi, who resigned from his post in March of this year, after leading the Israeli army for the first 17 months of the operation. “No one restricted me, not even once. Not once,” he added, emphasizing that not even the military attorney general, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, had the authority to impose limits on the actions.
Contradiction with official discourse
Halevi's statements clash with Israel's official discourse, which insists that its attacks are "in accordance" with international norms. The general pointed out that the military actions went ahead even in the face of contrary opinions within the legal framework of the armed forces.
According to Halevi, the bombings and operations have already resulted in more than 200 dead and wounded among Palestinians, a number close to that released by the Gaza Ministry of Health. Recent data from the local agency reports that at least 64.756 Palestinians have lost their lives, mostly women and children, and thousands remain missing under the rubble.
Devastating humanitarian impact
The near-total blockade imposed by Israel on the enclave has contributed to worsening the humanitarian crisis, leaving the population in a state of widespread hunger. Reports from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) indicate that 100% of Gaza's inhabitants face some degree of malnutrition.
Leaks of military information, in turn, suggest that more than 80% of the victims are civilians — contradicting the Israeli narrative that the operations seek to spare non-combatants.
The logic of aggression
In another part of his speech, Halevi made it clear that the regime's strategy is to act first and justify later: "We will know how to defend this legally before the world, and that is very important." For human rights lawyer Michael Sfard, such statements show that the army's legal advisors acted as mere "rubber stamps" to legitimize decisions already made.
Escalation in Gaza
Gaza City, the largest in the Strip, has become the epicenter of the most intense offensive to date. Dozens of residential towers were demolished following last-minute evacuation orders, in a strategy that, according to Amnesty International, is "illegal and inhumane."
The current Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, reportedly ignored advice to delay mass displacement operations, following the same course of action as his predecessor. The offensive seeks to subject the entire city, home to approximately one million people, to Israeli occupation, either through extermination or forced displacement.
Halevi's revelations reinforce international accusations that Israel is conducting a campaign of genocide against Palestinians, disregarding global treaties and conventions for the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
