Israeli soldiers say generals' ethnic cleansing 'plan' underway in northern Gaza

Israeli media has reported evidence that a plan to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza and kill any Palestinians who remain is underway.

Three Israeli reserve soldiers serving in Gaza told Haaretz this week that they believe the "Generals' Plan", also known as the Eiland Plan, is being implemented.

“The goal is to give the residents who live north of the Netzarim area a deadline to move to the south of the strip. After this date, whoever will remain in the north will be considered an enemy and will be killed," a soldier stationed in the Netzarim Corridor was quoted as saying.

"It doesn’t conform to any standard of international law. People sat and wrote a systematic order with charts and an operational concept, at the end of which you shoot whoever isn’t willing to leave. The very existence of this idea is unfathomable.”

Over the past 10 days, as Israeli forces ordered hundreds of thousands of people to flee northern Gaza before launching a new offensive, Israeli media and analysts have suggested that the military is implementing this controversial plan.

There are now increasing signs that even if the policy has not been adopted by top military officials who are reportedly discussing it, the plan is already being carried out, Haaretz reported on Wednesday.

"Ideas such as deliberately opening fire close to a population and even steps towards starving the inhabitants are being debated," wrote Haaretz journalist Amos Harel.

"These ideas haven’t officially been validated in the IDF chain of command, but the very fact that they are being discussed, and the political involvement of right-wing parties and media outlets, is trickling down."

Read more: Israeli soldiers say generals' ethnic cleansing 'plan' underway in northern Gaza