A leaked recording attributed to former Israeli Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva portrays him saying that the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are “necessary and required for future generations,” according to Israeli media cited by CNN.
In the audio, Haliva is heard asserting that for every person killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, “fifty Palestinians must die — it doesn’t matter if they are children.” He also says “the fact of 50,000 dead in Gaza is necessary,” and suggests Palestinians “need a Nakba from time to time to feel the price,” referencing the 1948 displacement of roughly 700,000 Palestinians.
It was not immediately clear when the remarks were made. Gaza’s death toll surpassed 50,000 in March, according to figures cited in the reports. Haliva headed Israel’s Military Intelligence on Oct. 7 and resigned in April 2024, taking “command responsibility,” becoming the first senior officer to step down after the attacks.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the audio appears to come from extended conversations but did not identify Haliva’s interlocutor. Haliva told the channel the comments were made in a “closed forum” and said he regretted them.
The leak comes amid intensifying criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign and reported plans to seize Gaza City. Last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost control,” calling a takeover of Gaza City “completely unacceptable.”