Gaza Herald _A former senior Israeli security official has called for Gaza to remain devastated for generations, openly framing the destruction of the besieged territory and the despair of its Palestinian population as outcomes that serve Israel’s interests.
Retired Major General Giora Eiland, who previously headed Israel’s National Security Council, made the remarks during an interview with Israel’s 103FM radio on Sunday.
“Israel has no interest in Gaza being rebuilt,” Eiland said, arguing that Gaza should remain destroyed for generations. He added that greater destruction and despair in the territory would serve as a lasting “monument” to the events of October 7.
The comments come as international efforts continue to advance a proposed 15-point framework for Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the plan and insisted on additional conditions.
General calls for permanent territorial control
Eiland, a secular Israeli nationalist who is politically aligned with opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman, described the US-backed Gaza plan as favorable to Hamas.
He argued that Israel should retain control over territory inside Gaza marked by the so-called Yellow Line, which currently represents areas under Israeli military control and has expanded since the ceasefire.
Eiland invoked post-World War II Germany to argue that the losing side in a war should surrender territory, saying Israel should retain land inside Gaza as what he described as a security buffer.
He insisted that the territory should not necessarily be used for settlement, but maintained that Israel should preserve control over the area to separate Israeli communities from locations where Israeli forces could operate.
His proposal would effectively preserve a significant Israeli military presence inside Gaza and entrench territorial control over parts of the Strip.
Criticism of Netanyahu’s approach to Washington
Despite his hardline position on Gaza, Eiland criticized Netanyahu’s handling of relations with Washington, arguing that Israel had become overly reliant on the personal relationship between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
He said Israel should avoid outright rejection of US proposals and instead accept them conditionally while attaching its own demands.
Eiland suggested that Israel could temporarily halt targeted killings in Gaza as a tactical concession to Washington, while maintaining control over the Yellow Line.
Netanyahu formally rejected the 15-point proposal on Sunday, insisting that Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza without what he described as the “genuine disarmament” of Hamas.
Gaza’s death toll continues to rise
The remarks come amid continued Israeli attacks across Gaza despite the ceasefire that took effect on October 11.
According to Palestinian sources, Israeli forces have killed at least 1,258 Palestinians and wounded another 4,139 since the ceasefire began.
Earlier this week, UNICEF reported that at least 300 children had been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces over the preceding 10 months.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed at least 73,386 Palestinians and wounded 174,250 others, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Eiland’s comments have further exposed the extent to which the question of Gaza’s reconstruction is intertwined with competing Israeli proposals for prolonged military control, territorial retention and the continued devastation of the Strip.
