‘Israel now has a plan for ethnic cleansing,' says Israeli analyst

Israeli political commentator Gideon Levy has accused the government of orchestrating a deliberate plan of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

In a Haaretz opinion piece, Levy wrote: “Someone conceived it, there were discussions of pros and cons, alternatives were suggested, options of total cleansing vs. stages, and all done in air-conditioned conference rooms with minutes taken and decisions made.”

He said this marks a turning point in the war. “For the first time since the war of revenge in Gaza began, it’s clear that Israel has a plan – and it’s a far-reaching one. This is no longer a rolling war.”

Levy added: “There is a purpose to this war, and it’s a criminal one. One can no longer tell army commanders that their troops are dying for no reason: They are dying in a war of ethnic cleansing.”

The article refers to reported Israeli military plans to force Gaza’s entire population into a southern zone, which Levy likened to a concentration area.