A leaked recording reveals ex-IDF intelligence chief Aharon Haliva saying that 50,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza are "necessary," sparking international condemnation. (Photo: X image used for representation only)
Israeli military intelligence’s former head retired Major General Aharon Haliva, in a leaked audio clip aired by Israel’s Channel 12, appeared to justify the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians during Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to a recent report published by The Guardian.
“For everything that happened on October 7, for every one person on October 7, 50 Palestinians must die,” Haliva could be heard saying in the leaked audio, per the publication. “It doesn’t matter now if they are children, Haliva reportedly said while adding that over 50,000 deaths in Gaza were “necessary and required for future generations” even as he described the ‘Nakba’ as something Palestinians have to go through “to feel the price.”
Reports suggest Haliva led military intelligence during the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of around 250 others. He resigned in April 2024, citing his “leadership responsibility.”
According to the report, Channel 12 did not reveal the identity of the person speaking with Haliva, and the recordings appear to be snippets from private discussions. Haliva, who has reportedly acknowledged that such a discussion took place, added they were made in a “closed forum” and regretted their release. The former IDF chief described his stated remarks from parts of leaked conversation as “fragments of partial things” not reflecting the full picture.
Haliva’s remarks have sparked global outrage, with some decrying those as a stark endorsement of collective punishment — actions widely deemed illegal under international law. His recent string of comments have further fuelled concerns over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has seen mounting civilian casualties and what many accuse of being war crimes.
Hamas, meanwhile, has condemned the audio as what the armed group says is proof that mass killings are an official policy. Meanwhile, international players have denounced Israel’s strategy, with New Zealand Prime Minister calling Israeli plans to occupy Gaza “utterly unacceptable” and Denmark’s leader reportedly saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost the plot.”
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