Haliva resigned in April 2024 after Israel faced criticism for intelligence failures ahead of Hamas’s October 7 attack. (Photo: Getty Images)
A leaked recording of former Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (ret.) Aharon Haliva has sparked international outrage. In the audio, broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12, Haliva said the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza were “necessary and required for future generations.”
“For every person killed on October 7, 50 Palestinians must die,” Haliva said. “It doesn’t matter now if they are children. The fact that there are already 50,000 dead in Gaza is necessary and required for future generations,” he added, according to CNN.
Haliva resigned in April 2024 after Israel faced criticism for intelligence failures ahead of Hamas’s October 7 attack. He insisted his comments were not about “revenge” but intended as a deterrent. “There is no choice — now and then, they need a Nakba to feel the price,” he said, referring to the 1948 displacement of Palestinians.
The former intelligence chief also blamed Israel’s political leadership and the Shin Bet security service for not anticipating the Hamas assault, which killed 1,200 people and led to about 250 kidnappings.
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In a statement to Channel 12, Haliva said the remarks were made in a “closed forum” and expressed regret. He called the leaked audio “fragments of partial things, which cannot reflect the full picture,” CNN reported.
Hamas condemned Haliva’s comments, saying the tape “confirms that crimes against our people are high-level decisions and official policy from the enemy’s political and security leadership.”
Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza has killed more than 61,000 people, according to local health authorities. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel is also facing a separate genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have protested across the country, demanding a government deal to free hostages held in Gaza. Families of the hostages spearheaded the protests, which saw large crowds assembling on key highways, outside the residences of politicians, and at army headquarters.
Protesters lit bonfires, blocked traffic, and some restaurants and theaters shut down in solidarity. Police arrested 38 people during the protests. Organizers claimed hundreds of thousands participated in the nationwide demonstrations. Concerns are growing over reports of a new military offensive in Gaza, which could endanger the remaining hostages. Of about 50 hostages still in captivity, only 20 are believed to be alive.
MUST READ: Hostage Families Lead Tel Aviv’s Biggest Protest Yet, Demanding End To Gaza War
