Gideon Levy: Israelis don鈥檛 see 鈥榙estruction鈥� in Gaza
The Israeli journalist says critics of the Gaza war condemned
The Israeli public 鈥榙on鈥檛 see Gaza鈥� and 鈥榡ust condemn anyone who dares to criticise Israel鈥�, columnist Gideon Levy has told the 麻豆约拍.
A fierce critic for many decades of Israel鈥檚 policies on Palestinians, and of the current war in Gaza, Mr Levy told HARDtalk鈥檚 Stephen Sackur that he wished images of the destruction in Gaza were presented to the Israeli public. 鈥業 wish more Israelis had at least watched the scenes of Gaza鈥 wish they would have seen more the children on the grounds of the hospitals, the starvation, the destruction. But none of this is presented here.鈥�
Speaking from Tel Aviv, Mr Levy said he felt 鈥榓 lot of sadness, depression, and also a sense of shame鈥� about the case being brought by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in its war in Gaza. 鈥業 don鈥檛 know if legally it is a genocide, but it is a bloodbath. It is a terrible, terrible mass killing,鈥� Mr Levy said. 鈥楾he Israelis don鈥檛 mind about the killing, they just mind about labelling it as genocide.鈥�
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 24,000 people have been killed in the war. The campaign in Gaza began in response to the Hamas attack on October 7 that killed over 1,200 in Israel. More than 130 of the hostages abducted that day are still being held by Hamas.
Israel鈥檚 President Herzog has called the accusations of genocide 鈥榓trocious鈥� and 鈥榩reposterous鈥� and Israel has accused South Africa of distorting the truth in the case. But Mr Levy said of Mr Herzog: 鈥楾he same president who condemned the International Court of Justice in the Hague signed on a rocket aimed at Gaza鈥� This bomb might have killed innocent women and children like most of the bombs did鈥� So he鈥檚 signing on a bomb and condemning those who criticise it? That鈥檚 really shameful.鈥�
