Israel killed or injured over 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza, former Israeli commander says

Israel has killed or injured over 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza in its military offensive that “not once” was inhibited by legal advice, former Israeli army commander Herzi Halevi confirmed in a recording published by Ynet news website.

This is one of the first admissions from the Israeli side of a tally closest to that of Gaza’s health ministry. With a population of 2.2 million, this would mean that 10 percent people in Gaza have been killed or wounded.

The official toll stands at 64,718 killed and 163,859 injured in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

While repeatedly refuted by Israel as Hamas propaganda, the figures from the Gaza health ministry are considered reliable by international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations.

“This isn’t a gentle war. We took the gloves off from the first minute. Sadly not earlier,” Halevi said, speaking to residents of Ein HaBesor moshav (agricultural cooperative).

The retired commander led Israel’s military assault on Gaza for the first 17 months, before stepping down in March.

Halevi said that legal advice did not dictate his military decisions at any point.

“Not once has anyone restricted me. Not once. Not the military AG [advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi] who, by the way, hasn’t the authority to restrict me,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Haaretz newspaper reported that Halevi’s successor as Israeli army’s chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, had ignored Tomer-Yerushalmi’s legal advice.

A barrage of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City killed at least 32 people, including 12 children, medical staff reported.