The leader of Israel’s opposition party says the government’s approach to the war against Hamas risks the country becoming an “outcast among nations”.
The comments from Yair Golan, a retired general and the leader of the Democrats, are rare criticism from within Israel of its conduct in Gaza.
“A sane country doesn’t engage in fighting against civilians, doesn’t kill babies as a hobby and doesn’t set for itself the goals of expelling a population,” Mr Golan told Reshet Bet radio.
Many Israelis have criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war, but that has been mostly limited to what opponents argue are his political motives to continue the conflict.
Criticism like Mr Golan’s, over the war’s toll on Palestinian civilians, has been almost unheard.
Mr Netanyahu swiftly hit back against Mr Golan’s remarks, calling them “wild incitement” against Israeli soldiers.
The prime minister accused Mr Golan of echoing “disgraceful antisemitic blood libels” against the country.
Mr Golan joined the fight against raiding militants during Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.
He had previously sparked an uproar in 2016 when, as deputy military chief of staff, he compared the atmosphere in Israel to that of Germany under Nazi rule.
At least 60 dead overnight
Israeli strikes pounded Gaza overnight and into Tuesday, hitting a family home and a school-turned-shelter, and killing at least 60 people, Palestinian health officials said.
Israel has launched another major offensive in the territory in recent days, saying it aims to return dozens of hostages held by Hamas and destroy the militant group.
More than 300 have been killed since the start of the latest onslaught.
Israel says it aims to seize Gaza and hold on to territory there, displace hundreds of thousands of people and secure aid distribution.
As the new offensive ramps up, Israel agreed to allow a limited amount of aid into the war-ravaged territory after a two-and-a-half month blockade that prevented the entry of food, medicine and fuel, among other goods. The blockade prompted warnings from food experts of a risk of famine.
Mr Netanyahu said he made the decision to let in minimal aid after pressure from allies.
Criticism of Israel’s conduct intensified Monday when allies Canada, France and the United Kingdom threatened “concrete actions” against the country, including sanctions, and called on Israel to stop its “egregious” new military actions in Gaza.
So far, just a handful of trucks have been sent into Gaza, which UN agencies say is nowhere near enough to meet the massive need. Some 600 trucks a day had entered during a ceasefire earlier this year.
