Tel aviv: Israel's Channel 12 has broadcast leaked recordings of former military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (retired) Aharon Haliva, in which he openly justified the large-scale killing of Palestinians in Gaza as a deliberate policy message. Haliva stated, "For every person killed on Oct. 7, 50 Palestinians must die," referring to the high death toll as "necessary for future generations." His comments also included a reference to the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians, saying, "they need a Nakba every now and then to feel the price."

According to Anadolu Agency, Haliva insisted that these killings were "not revenge," but rather a "deterrent to future generations," sparking outrage for presenting mass civilian casualties as a strategic necessity. The former intelligence chief, who resigned in April 2024 after acknowledging his role in the failures preceding the Oct. 7 attack, criticized Israel's Shin Bet, stating that the security service was equally responsible for the disaster along with military intelligence. He also denounced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials for not resigning, labeling the situation a 'catastrophic national failure.'

Haliva's remarks are unprecedented, marking the first time such extreme statements have been publicly aired by a senior Israeli figure, shedding light on the justification of mass Palestinian deaths in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Since October 2023, Israel has killed nearly 61,900 Palestinians in Gaza, leading to widespread devastation and pushing the enclave towards famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.