Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz threatened that “Gaza will burn” as Israel’s military reportedly readied plans Thursday for a possible ground invasion of the occupied Palestinian territory, a major escalation that human rights advocates warned would lead to more destruction and civilian deaths.
“It’s direct evidence of premeditation to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. No one can say ‘I didn’t know.’ Anyone who aids, abets, or justifies this criminal regime has blood on their hands.”
—Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada
In remarks dubbed as a message to the people of Gaza, Gantz—who served as chief of general staff for the IDF during Israel’s deadly 2014 invasion of the Gaza Strip—claimed that “Hamas leaders bear responsibility for your being hunkered down in your homes” amid Israeli airstrikes.
“If citizens of Israel have to sleep in shelters” due to Hamas rocket attacks, Gantz said late Wednesday, “then Gaza will burn.”
Observers viewed Gantz’s remarks as a direct threat to inflict mass civilian casualties on one of the most densely populated areas in the world, a territory considered by many to be an “open-air prison” crowded with around two million people.
Ali Abunimah, co-founder of The Electronic Intifada, tweeted that Gantz’s remarks “should be entered directly as evidence of war crimes to the International Criminal Court.”
“Gantz said ‘Gaza will burn,'” Abunimah continued. “It’s direct evidence of premeditation to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. No one can say ‘I didn’t know.’ Anyone who aids, abets, or justifies this criminal regime has blood on their hands.”
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