Moshe Ya'alon, a prominent Israeli security figure who once served as both military chief and defense minister, has issued a stark warning about Israel's current direction in Gaza, claiming the country is moving toward "occupation, annexation and ethnic cleansing."
Who is Moshe Ya'alon?
Ya'alon brings significant weight to these criticisms as a former insider turned critic. He served as Chief of Staff of the IDF and later as Netanyahu's Defense Minister from 2013 to 2016. Originally a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, Ya'alon has transformed from ally to fierce critic of the prime minister in recent years, particularly regarding Netanyahu's governance and policy decisions.
In a recent interview, Ya'alon pointed to specific examples of what he sees as concerning developments: "There is no Beit Lahia, there is no Beit Hanoun," he said, referring to northern Gaza towns. "[The military] are currently operating in Jabalia and are essentially cleansing the area of Arabs."
Ya'alon expressed particular concern about pressure from far-right elements within the government who advocate for Palestinian "voluntary migration" from Gaza and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements there. While Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly denied these are objectives of the current war, Ya'alon suggests the government's actions tell a different story.
The former defense chief cited public opinion polls showing that roughly 70% of Israelis support a "Jewish, democratic, liberal" path forward, suggesting current policies are being driven by a minority viewpoint. "The one who wants to confuse us is the one who is currently leading us to nothing less than destruction," he warned, in a clear reference to Netanyahu's leadership.
His comments come as international organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have raised similar concerns about displacement in Gaza, where the UN reports 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced since the war began following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
Why Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon is dead wrong:
The accusation that Israel is conducting "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza completely ignores fundamental facts about the conflict. Far from implementing any policy of permanent displacement, Israel has consistently maintained that Gaza will remain Palestinian territory, with Netanyahu repeatedly rejecting calls for resettlement.
The IDF's evacuation orders are standard military protocol designed to protect civilian life during active combat operations against Hamas - a terrorist organization that deliberately embeds its military infrastructure in civilian areas. These temporary measures, which include advance warnings and humanitarian corridors, are a far cry from ethnic cleansing.
What is driving Ya'alon's inflammatory rhetoric?
His political opposition to Netanyahu, and not operational reality.
As a former defense minister now firmly in the opposition, he no longer has access to current military planning or decision-making, yet speaks as if he does.
The facts on the ground tell a different story: Israel continues to coordinate humanitarian aid into Gaza, maintains protocols for civilian return to cleared areas, and documents its efforts to minimize civilian casualties while targeting Hamas's military capabilities. This systematic approach to protecting civilian life while pursuing legitimate military objectives stands in direct contradiction to Ya'alon's sensationalist claims of ethnic cleansing.
The Times of Israel contributed to this article.
