Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has strongly condemned the ongoing military operations in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing war crimes and inflicting large-scale devastation on innocent Palestinian civilians.
In a scathing opinion piece published in Haaretz, Olmert described the war as “indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal,” claiming that “thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed” in what he called “a war of devastation.”
Olmert, who led Israel from 2006 to 2009, said the current campaign lacks purpose, goals, or a coherent strategy. “Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war,” he wrote, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership a “criminal gang” that has set a dangerous precedent.
He also admitted that while he had previously defended Israel against war crime allegations, he could no longer do so. “Yes, Israel is committing war crimes,” Olmert stated bluntly, citing the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The former prime minister’s remarks follow similar warnings from Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, who said on public broadcaster Kan that “a sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby.”
Olmert’s critique marks one of the most outspoken condemnations by a high-ranking Israeli figure against the Netanyahu government’s handling of the Gaza war.
In a scathing opinion piece published in Haaretz, Olmert described the war as “indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal,” claiming that “thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed” in what he called “a war of devastation.”
Olmert, who led Israel from 2006 to 2009, said the current campaign lacks purpose, goals, or a coherent strategy. “Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war,” he wrote, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership a “criminal gang” that has set a dangerous precedent.
He also admitted that while he had previously defended Israel against war crime allegations, he could no longer do so. “Yes, Israel is committing war crimes,” Olmert stated bluntly, citing the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The former prime minister’s remarks follow similar warnings from Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, who said on public broadcaster Kan that “a sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby.”
Olmert’s critique marks one of the most outspoken condemnations by a high-ranking Israeli figure against the Netanyahu government’s handling of the Gaza war.
