Idea says people should go through a security screening to enter and, from then on, they will not be allowed to leave
São Paulo, SP (Folhapress)-, which is now in ruins, to house the entire population of the Gaza Strip, would be like a concentration camp, said former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert.
The statement was given in an interview with The Guardian on Sunday (13) and generated criticism from the government of the current Binyamin Netanyahu.
“It’s a concentration camp. I’m sorry,” said Olmert. “If they [palestinos] They are deported to this new ‘humanitarian city’, so it can be said that this is part of ethnic cleaning. ”
The idea was announced last week by Israel’s Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, who said he instructed the country’s armed forces to prepare a plan that should initially involve the displacement of 600,000 Palestinians.
Katz said people should go through a security screening to enter and, from then on, will not be allowed to leave.
“When they build a field in which [planejam] ‘Clean’ more than half of Gaza, so the inevitable understanding of this strategy [é que] It’s not about saving [os palestinos]. It is about deporting them, pushing them and discarding them. There is no other possible interpretation, at least for me, ”said Olmert.
He, who was Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, had previously criticized the conduct of the Israeli army in the conflict against Hamas. In May, he said he could no longer defend Israel at accusations of war crimes.
In the interview with The Guardian, former prime minister pondered, however, that he does not consider that Israel’s current campaign constitutes an ethnic cleaning. “This hasn’t happened yet,” he said.
He is not the only one to criticize the Palestinian displacement project. The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa) also compares the alleged “humanitarian city” to a “concentration camp”.
The British minister to the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconner, said he was dismayed with the project. “Palestinian territory should not be reduced. Civilians should be able to return to their homes,” he wrote on platform X.
According to Israeli press, the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, criticized the plan at a security office meeting. According to these reports, the military considered that the initiative diverted the attention of the two main objectives of the war: to eliminate Hamas and free the hostages.
Still, Olmert’s lines were harshly criticized by Netanyahu. In a statement, the government called the former prize a “convicted criminal who shames Israel.”
“We evacuated civilians. Hamas prevents them. Does he call it war crime?” Asked the note, in reference to the fact that Olmert was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for fraud. He was released in early 2017.
The idea announced by Israel provides for the construction of the space during the 60-day ceasefire that is negotiating between the Netanyahu government and the terrorist group Hamas.
With this plan, the military would be responsible for the safety of the entire perimeter, but would not manage the place or promote delivery of humanitarian aid.
Katz stated that Israel seeks partner states for the administration of the new zone, which at first has its plan coordinated by the director general of the Ministry of Defense and former chief of staff, Amir Baram.
International humanitarian entities have already criticized Israel’s actions and plans, describing them as forced displacement.
