Israel is still ethnically cleansing Gaza
we must stop the horrors unfolding in Palestine
In October, I wrote that Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza.
In 2024, Israel hasn’t stopped.
Mass destruction and mass civilian death
Israel’s very high rate of bombing has steadily continued into the new year. As of 2024 January 3, the Gaza Ministry of Health reports 22,313 killed (1% of Gaza’s population) and 57,296 injured (2% of Gaza’s population). This is horrific:
On 2023 October 26, the Gaza Ministry of Health provided a list of the dead. The vast majority of those killed in Gaza were women, children, or elderly. By my calculations, 68% of Palestinians killed in Gaza were NOT “military-aged men”.
Given that Israel has shown an acceptance of a civilian death rate per attack several times higher than that of the United States, we should also assume that most of those “military-age men” were civilians. By my estimates, it would be reasonable to assume that just 10% of the thousands killed by Israel are enemy combatants.
Israel’s bombing has damaged 60% of Gaza’s housing units. Combined with Israel’s expulsion orders, 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza have fled their homes – that’s 85% of the population of Gaza, or 5 in every 6 people:
Mass displacement like this kills people. In previous wars, people immediately displaced from their homes – refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) – saw a 60-times increase of mortality rates. If that happens in Gaza, then as many as 1 in 4 Gazans would die from disease, hunger, and thirst over the next year.
Israel’s actions – mass death, mass displacement, and no serious humanitarian attempt to preserve Gazan lives – already amount to ethnic cleansing.
Israel’s leaders have made it clear: They support ethnic cleansing. Whether they use euphemisms – like “voluntary migration” – or explicitly support the humanitarian catastrophe above, their demand is the same: The mass exodus of Gazans from Gaza.
This is ethnic cleansing, in action and intent.
Israeli leadership signals support for ethnic cleansing
Likud leads the governing coalition of Israel. In a Likud factional meeting on 2023 December 25, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed “voluntary migration” from Gaza (Hebrew original, English, Google Translate):
Regarding voluntary migration – I have no problem with that. Our problem is not allowing departure, but [finding] countries which are willing to take in [the refugees]. And we are working on it. This is the goal we are coalescing around.
Netanyahu is right: Israeli leadership is coalescing around “voluntary migration” – refusing to care for Gazans in Gaza or Israel, while encouraging as many to leave Gaza as possible.
It’s not just random members of parliament. Itamar Ben-Gvir is the Minister of National Security, former member of the Jewish ethnonationalist Kach party / terror group, and member of the far-right Jewish Power party. On 2024 January 01, Ben-Gvir rejected US talking points and demanded “the migration of hundreds of thousands” from Gaza (Hebrew original, Google Translate):
Really appreciate the United States of America but with all due respect we are not another star on the American flag. The United States is our best friend, but first of all we will do what is best for the State of Israel: the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the residents of the enclave to return home and live in security and protect the IDF soldiers.
It’s not just Ben-Gvir. Bezazel Smotrich is the Minister of Finance and member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party. Smotrich has twice called for the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians in Gaza. First, on 2023 November 14 (Hebrew original, English, Google Translate), he supported “the initiative [by Danon and Ben-Barak] for the voluntary migration of Gazan Arabs to countries worldwide” because Israel cannot allow “an independent entity in Gaza”. Second, on 2023 December 31, Smotrich explicitly argued that Gaza’s population must be reduced 10 times (English):
What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage migration. If there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not 2 million Arabs, the entire discussion on the day after will be totally different.
Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been excluded from the “War Cabinet” but remain on the Security Cabinet. Apparently, Netanyahu does not think these statements merit breaking up his alliance with .
It’s not just far-rightists. MP Gila Gamliel is the Minister of Intelligence and member of the rightist Likud party. In a 2023 November 19 article, she first argued against all other options – such as granting the Palestinian Authority control over Gaza – and explicitly argued for “voluntary resettlement” outside Gaza:
Another option is to promote the voluntary resettlement of Palestinians in Gaza, for humanitarian reasons, outside of the Strip. It is important that those who seek a life elsewhere be provided with that opportunity. Some world leaders are already discussing a worldwide refugee resettlement scheme and saying they would welcome Gazans to their countries. [….] Instead of funneling money to rebuild Gaza or to the failed UNRWA, the international community can assist in the costs of resettlement, helping the people of Gaza build new lives in their new host countries. [….] I am gratified to hear that Members of Knesset from across the political spectrum, including both the coalition and opposition, have joined my Ministry’s initiative and declared their support for it.
Gamaliel is right: Politicians from the center-left to the far-right have supported her ministry’s plan, which we will discuss in the next section.
In short: Israel’s ruling government is openly endorsing the “solution” of mass emigration. Politicians of every stripe in Netanyahu’s coalition have endorsed “voluntary migration” as the best solution to the “Gaza problem”.
Israeli policy papers call for ethnic cleansing
Not just one, but two Israeli policy papers have endorsed ethnic cleansing.
The first paper: The Israeli Ministry of Intelligence is roughly similar to the Director of National Intelligence in the United States. (It’s mostly for advisement, not executing policy.) The current Minister of Intelligence is Gila Gamliel, mentioned above. On 2023 October 28, Mekomit leaked a secret policy brief from the Ministry of Intelligence.
The Israeli brief, dated 2023 October 13, is titled “Policy paper: Options for a policy regarding Gaza’s civilian population” and outlines three options for “the day after” – and clearly argued for the expulsion of Palestinians (Hebrew original; English translation):
Option A: Bring over the PA: “The population remain[s] in Gaza and the import of Palestinian Authority (PA) rule.”
Rejected as an “an unprecedented victory of the Palestinian national movement”
Option B: Create new government: “The population remain[s] in Gaza along with the emergence of a local Arab authority.”
Rejected because it could “lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state”
Option C: Expel the Palestinians: “The evacuation of the civilian population from Gaza to Sinai.”
Accepted as the preferred option which will “will yield positive, long-term strategic outcomes for Israel”
Later in the brief, the Israeli Ministry of Intelligence explained Option C in more detail – with a key detail being that “the return of the population” even just to the border of Israel “should not be allowed”:
Due to the fighting against Hamas, there is a need to evacuate the non-combatant population from the combat area.
Israel should act to evacuate the civilian population to Sinai.
In the first stage, tent cities will be established in the area of Sinai, the next stage includes the establishment of a humanitarian zone to assist the civilian population of Gaza and the construction of cities in a resettled area in northern Sinai.
A sterile zone of several kilometers should be created within Egypt, and the return of the population to activities/residences near the border with Israel should not be allowed. In addition, a security perimeter should be established in our territory near the border with Egypt.
After the brief was confirmed as authentic, this leak was so bad that Netanyahu was forced to downplay it on 2023 October 30 as merely a “concept paper”. This is probably a lie. But even if it was true, it’s absurd that any government agency would draft “concept papers” which call for the expulsion of millions of people from their home.
But as if this wasn’t enough, the Misgav Institute – mostly funded by the Ministry of Intelligence – decided to write another ethnic cleansing brief.
The second paper: The Misgav Institute is a NGO heavily funded by the Ministry of Intelligence, deeply involved with Likud, and headed by Meir Ben Shabbat, former National Security Advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu. On 2023 October 17, Misgav publicly posted a report titled “A plan for resettlement and final rehabilitation in Egypt of the entire population of Gaza: economic aspects” (Hebrew original, English translation).
Misgav opens by telling Israelis they have “a unique and rare opportunity” to move the entire population of Gaza into Egypt:
There is currently a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the entire Gaza Strip in coordination with the Egyptian government. This document will present a sustainable plan with a high economic feasibility, which aligns well with the economic and geopolitical interests of the State of Israel, Egypt, the USA and Saudi Arabia. A summary of an immediate, realistic and sustainable plan for humanitarian resettlement and rehabilitation of the entire Arab population in the Gaza Strip.
Misgav outlines the details of this plan, and then argues that the ethnic cleansing would not only benefit Israel, but Egypt, which could import more Israeli gas once Gaza is “emptied of its inhabitants”:
In addition, closing the Gaza issue will ensure a stable and increased supply of Israeli gas to Egypt and its liquefaction, as well as stronger control by the Egyptian companies over the existing gas reserves Opposite the shores of Gaza together with the transfer of Gaza emptied of its inhabitants to the State of Israel.
And, like all fiscally responsible ethnic cleansers, Misgav includes a table estimating the economic cost of expelling 1.4 million to 2.2 million people from their homes:
Just 1.5% of GDP – what a steal!
The Misgav Institute concludes: “It is the time to act. Now.”
They’re right. We cannot allow this.
It’s not just Netanyahu
Lots of Zionist groups have continued to portray criticism of Israel’s brutal policies toward Palestinians as anti-Jewish bigotry. For example, the centrist Zionist Tel Aviv Institute recently posted on Instagram that “criticizing the current Prime Minister” is not anti-semitic – but calling Israel an “apartheid state” or “colonialist state” is:
However, support for ethnic cleansing goes far beyond current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his ministers, or his coalition.
Support is not limited to rightist politicians. That comment from Netanyahu earlier in this blogpost was in response to a 2023 November 12 article by two influential members of parliament – MP Danny Danon, previously Israeli ambassador to the UN and current member of rightist Likud party, and MP Ram Ben-Barak, previously deputy director of Mossad and current member of the centrist Yesh Atid party. That article, written with cross-party and cross-ideology support, was titled “The West Should Welcome Gaza Refugees”:
Europe and the U.S. accepted millions who fled earlier wars. [….] We simply need a handful of the world’s nations to share the responsibility of hosting Gazan residents. Even if countries took in as few as 10,000 people each, it would help alleviate the crisis.
Notably, nowhere in the article do Danon and Ben-Barak argue that Israel has a responsibility to host these refugees or that these refugees have a right to return. Ben-Barak had previously appeared on
Support is not limited to random centrist politicians: Yair Lapid leads the centrist Yesh Atid party, which is the second-largest party in Israel, and is thus Leader of the Opposition. Lapid previously said in 2016 that he wants “maximum Jews on maximum land with maximum security and with minimum Palestinians”. More recently, around 2023 November 20, Lapid leaned into dehumanizing rhetoric and stated that a majority of those killed by the Israeli military in Gaza were Hamas members (English 1, English 2):
The majority of the people who were killed were Hamas terrorists. People are saying this number, 12,000 people were killed. Yes! Hamas is an army of 40,000 people, and many of them were killed. Good riddance! Again, there are civilians who were hurt, and this is what happens when you engage in war in a very densely populated area.
Support is not limited to right-wing publications. For example, centrist paper Yedioth Ahronoth published an article on 2023 November 19 by former Major General Giora Eiland (also an advisor to the current Defense Minister) titled “Let’s not be intimidated by the world” (Hebrew 1, Hebrew 2, English 1, English 2, Google Translate), where he argued that “humanitarian disaster” for the people of Gaza is militarily justified:
According to the American narrative, there are two groups of people in Gaza. One is the Hamas fighters, who are cruel terrorists and therefore must die. Most of the people in Gaza belong to a second group, innocent citizens who suffer for no fault of their own, and therefore it is the duty of Israel not only to avoid harming them as much as possible but also to act to make their lives easier.
The other, and more correct, narrative is the following: Israel is not fighting against a terrorist organization but against the state of Gaza. [….]
Who are the “poor” Gazan women? They are all the mothers, sisters or wives of Hamas murderers. On the one hand, they are part of the infrastructure that supports the organization, and on the other hand, if they experience a humanitarian disaster, then it must be assumed that some of the Hamas fighters and the more junior commanders will begin to understand that the war is futile and that it is better to prevent irreversible damage to their family members. The way to win the war faster and at a lower cost for us requires collapse systems on the other side and not just the killing of another Hamas fighter. The international community warns us of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and of severe epidemics. We must not shy away from this, with all the difficulty involved. After all, severe epidemics in the southern Gaza Strip will bring victory closer, and we will suffer fewer casualties among IDF soldiers.
In response to Eiland’s article, Bezalel Smotrich – the Minister of Finance mentioned above – wrote “I agree with every word” (Hebrew original, Google Translate).
Support is not limited to the center and right. For example, Isaac Herzog is the President of Israel (mostly ceremonial) and membr of the center-left (and Zionist) Labor Party. While taking questions from reporters on 2023 October 12, he stated (English original):
It is an entire nation out there that is responsible. It’s not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved. It’s absolutely not true. They could have risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’etat [Hamas].
Later in that press conference, Herzog clarified that Gazan civilians are not legitimate targets, but added: “If you have a missile in your goddamn kitchen, and you want to shoot it at me, am I allowed to defend myself? Yes.”
In short: The problem is not just Netanyahu. Israeli politicians from the center-left to the far-right have been calling for ethnic cleansing. Without international opposition, it’s likely that they will get their way.
There is no true “voluntary migration” in a warzone
Francesca Albanese is a Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine for the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR).
On 2023 October 14, Albanese wrote that “in the name of self-defence, Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing”. Then, Albanese was referring to the Israeli military ordering all residents of northern Gaza to flee their homes.
On 2023 December 29, Albanese described Netanyahu’s “voluntary migration” plans as “forced displacement” and a “crime against humanity”:
[I]t’s so cynical to call it “voluntary migration” and continue to evoke as the only possibility for the Palestinians in Gaza to survive to move somewhere else, to the Sinai or somewhere else in the Arab region, saying that the Palestinians are Arabs. This is like saying that Italians can go anywhere because they are European. This is so racist, the classic forced displacement. It’s a crime against humanity and cannot be allowed again.
Albanese is right. There can be no “voluntary migration” from a warzone, where your military occupiers refuse to ensure your basic human needs.
American readers may remember Mitt Romney’s “self-deportation” strategy, in which America would make life suck so badly for undocumented residents that they would “choose” to leave.
Israeli leadership will call this plan “humanitarian” and “voluntary”, a chance for Western countries to help out refugees of war. But Israel’s leadership has shown virtually zero interest in the humanitarian wellbeing of the 1.8 million Gazans internally displaced by Israeli bombs and Israeli evacuation orders. In reality, Israeli plans and Israeli rhetoric show that they just want the Palestinians gone.
This is no real choice. This is no voluntary decision. This is ethnic cleansing.
Ethnic cleansing is a slippery slope to genocide
Omer Bartov is a professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. In 2010, he argued that the Israeli occupation of Palestine, while brutal, did not constitute genocide.
But Bartov is getting more and more worried. He wrote on 2023 November 10 that “while we cannot say that the military is explicitly targeting Palestinian civilians”, in function and rhetoric “we may be watching an ethnic cleansing operation that could quickly devolve into genocide”. In the occupied West Bank, where several Palestinian villages have been evacuated, IDF soldiers and armed Israeli settlers appear to be “sliding toward ethnic cleansing under the cover of war in Gaza”.
Yesterday, on 2023 December 31, Bartov summarized the recent comments by Smotrich and Netanyahu: The “Israeli government seems to want” not just “to create unbearable conditions for the population of Gaza”, but “actually to speak about removing the population”. If Israel continues down its current path, we will watch “ethnic cleansing under the mantle of humanitarian action”.
Other Holocaust scholars. Raz Segal, a professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, “a textbook case of genocide”.
Bartov concludes with a plea to the reader:
If we truly believe that the Holocaust taught us a lesson about the need — or really, the duty — to preserve our own humanity and dignity by protecting those of others, this is the time to stand up and raise our voices, before Israel’s leadership plunges it and its neighbors into the abyss.
There is still time to stop Israel from letting its actions become a genocide. We cannot wait a moment longer.
He’s right.
What can you do?
So long as the United States completely supports Israel’s every action, our “strongest Middle Eastern ally” will face no repercussions from the United Nations Security Council. We have to demand that US leaders abandon their support for Israel’s ethnic cleansing.
Here’s how you can do that:
Call your Congresspeople: Join the No Money For Massacres (NMFM) phonebanking campaign. We’ve made ~325,000 calls and won ~65 Congresspeople to supporting a ceasefire!
Donate: Support the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), which goes directly to keeping Palestinian children alive.
Get organized: You should join the DSA, which is organizing pro-Palestine events and defending pro-Palestine candidates around the country.
If you’d like to read more about Palestinian repression by Israel, check out Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, a free Haymarket book by DSA members Sumaya Awad and brian bean.
Fight against ethnic cleansing. Fight for a better world.
