By Leaked recording reveals ex-Israeli military intelligence chief called 50,000 Gaza deaths ‘necessary’
Leaked recordings have captured former military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva suggesting that a high Palestinian death toll in Gaza was “necessary.” In the audio, Haliva is heard saying that the deaths of around 50,000 Palestinians would serve as a deterrent, describing it as a message “for future generations.” He also remarked that for every Israeli killed in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, 50 Palestinians should die, adding, “It doesn’t matter if they’re children.”
The comments mark the first time a former senior Israeli military official has been heard publicly endorsing such a level of Palestinian casualties in the ongoing war. The date of the private discussion in which the remarks were made has not been disclosed.
Human rights group B’Tselem condemned the statements, calling them evidence of “a deliberate policy of genocide.” Israel has consistently rejected such accusations, including those raised in ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
Haliva stepped down in April 2024, accepting responsibility for intelligence failures that allowed the October 7 assault, during which Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 people in Israel and abducted more than 250 others, according to Israeli government figures. Around 50 hostages remain in captivity. Since the conflict began, the Gaza Health Ministry says more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed.
In additional remarks broadcast by Channel 12, Haliva acknowledged that Israeli intelligence had long underestimated the threat posed by Hamas in Gaza, focusing instead on the West Bank. He said those assumptions collapsed during the October 7 attack, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in Israel’s defenses.
Following the broadcast, Haliva confirmed the authenticity of the leaked comments but said they had been taken out of context and expressed regret over how they were presented.
‘It doesn’t matter if they are children’: Ex-IDF chief on mass Palestinian deaths
Ex-Israeli intelligence chief said 50 Palestinians must die for every 7 October victim
‘It doesn’t matter now if they are children’: Ex-IDF chief said 50 Palestinian deaths for every 7 October victim was ‘necessary’
Israel’s ex-military intelligence chief said 50,000 Gaza deaths were ‘necessary’
