CNN —A highly decorated former Israeli defense minister has caused a firestorm by accusing Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in northern Gaza. The interviewer expressed surprise at Ya’alon’s use of the phrase “ethnic cleansing,” asking, “Is that what you think – that we’re on the way there?”“Why ‘on the way?’” he responded. The Israeli military has for two months been carrying out an intense and deadly operation in northern Gaza, targeting what it says are resurgent Hamas militants. Vanishingly few aid deliveries have been allowed into northern Gaza, according to the World Food Programme. “Under this title, ethnic cleansing is effectively being carried out; I don’t have another word for it.”The interviewer said that such a phrase evoked “dark periods” in history.

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Persons: Israel, Moshe Ya’alon, ” Ya’alon, ’ ”, They’re, ”, Ya’alon, Giora, “, ’, Bezalel Smotrich, Josep Borrell, Jack Guez, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, ” Naftali Bennett, –, Ben Gvir, Daniela Weiss ” – Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s Democrat TV, Hamas, “, Gush, Israel TV, Kan, Haaretz, Rights Watch, Getty, IDF Locations: Gaza, There’s, Jabalya, Katif, Israel, ”, AFP