Israeli minister says she is “proud of the ruins of Gaza”

The far-right coalition government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have naturalized the war crimes it perpetuates in the Gaza Strip amid its political survival in the country.

In the same week that a minister said she was “proud” of the destruction in the enclave, however, a high-ranking lawyer from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a warning to military commanders against several illegal actions carried out by Israeli troops.

This Monday (19), Israel’s Minister of Social Equality and Women’s Empowerment, May Golan, stated in a speech that she is “proud of the ruins of Gaza”. Golan is a member of Likud, the far-right party to which Netanyahu also belongs.

The statement came just hours after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized what he classified as “genocide” and “slaughter” in Gaza.

“I am personally proud of the ruins of Gaza, and that all the babies [palestinos]Even 80 years from now, they will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did,” said Israel’s Minister of Social Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

“I am personally proud of the ruins of Gaza, and that all the babies [palestinos]even 80 years from now, they will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did” — May Golan, Minister of Social Equality and Women’s Empowerment of Israel pic.twitter.com/FlkcunUr6i

— Jeff Nascimento (@jnascim) February 21, 2024

The naturalness with which Golan disregards human lives in Gaza, however, is neither new nor surprising to the most attentive viewer of Israel’s political life. In 2013, she gained fame by denouncing African refugees in Israel, calling them “Muslim infiltrators”, criminals and rapists.

“If I am a racist for wanting to defend my country and for wanting to protect my basic rights and my safety, then I am a proud racist,” she said at a rally for Jewish Power, a far-right party descended from the Kach party, which was prohibited by Israeli anti-terrorism laws.

Jewish Power is part of Netanyahu’s coalition, and houses cadres such as the supremacist Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security.

At the time, Golan even claimed that many of the immigrants have AIDS, suggesting that they were spreading the HIV virus when working in restaurants. At the time, Golan demanded that they be expelled from the country.

High-ranking lawyer warns against abuse

Despite the naturalization of bombings and military incursions that Netanyahu’s government promotes in Gaza, a high-ranking IDF lawyer presented a warning to force commanders against illegal actions carried out by Israeli troops in the enclave.

Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi stated this Wednesday (21) that she had found “cases of unacceptable conduct”. “We found cases of unacceptable conduct that deviate from IDF values ​​and protocols,” the soldier said.

Tomer-Yerushalmi said the cases include “inappropriate statements that encourage unacceptable behavior; unjustified use of force, including against detainees; looting, which includes the use or removal of private property for non-operational purposes; and destruction of civilian property contrary to protocols.”

“Some incidents go beyond the disciplinary domain and cross the criminal threshold”, he warned. “These acts and statements, by individuals who do not represent the collective, are contrary to the IDF as a professional, moral and dignified army,” said Tomer-Yerushalm

The attempt to contain war crimes by the Israeli army comes amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire, even though the United States vetoed, this Tuesday (20), a proposed resolution from the Security Council of the Organization of Nations. United Nations (UN) in this sense.

She said the acts also “cause strategic damage to the State of Israel and the Armed Forces in the international arena, the severity of which is difficult to deny.”

Tomer-Yerushalm’s warnings come a day after IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi sent a letter to troops stating that the army is “not on a killing spree.” The lieutenant general’s statement to subordinates also says that the Armed Forces do not act out of revenge or commit genocide in Gaza.