Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his military campaign in Gaza will continue until achieving “total victory.” Yet behind this vague rhetoric lies a darker and more insidious agenda: the systematic ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s northern regions to pave the way for exclusive Jewish settlements. This undeclared objective underscores the true nature of the ongoing devastation in Gaza and the plight of its 2.3 million residents.
The Hidden Agenda
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led incursion into Israel, Netanyahu has framed his military campaign as a mission to eliminate threats and free Israeli captives. However, Palestinian resistance groups had offered a prisoner swap early in the conflict, which Netanyahu rejected outright. Analysts argue that his refusal was driven less by security concerns and more by his broader strategy to reoccupy Gaza and expel its native population.
Key members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have openly called for the reoccupation of Gaza. Smotrich described the situation as a “unique opportunity” to displace Palestinians and establish new Jewish-only settlements. Ben Gvir has echoed similar sentiments, advocating for the “conquest” of Gaza and the forced removal of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
A Genocidal Campaign
On the ground, Israel’s military actions reflect this chilling agenda. Northern Gaza, including towns like Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia, has faced relentless bombing and forced displacement. Aid trucks have been blocked, and humanitarian convoys denied entry. Women and children are scavenging through rubbish for food as starvation spreads.
In parallel, Israeli forces have begun constructing a barrier to isolate northern Gaza, demolishing entire neighborhoods to create a 5.6-mile road cutting across the enclave. Human Rights Watch has condemned these actions as crimes against humanity, characterizing the forced depopulation of northern Gaza as part of an official policy to erase its Palestinian identity.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon recently described Netanyahu’s war as one of “occupation, annexation, and ethnic cleansing.” Ya’alon highlighted that areas like Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have already been effectively wiped off the map.
Colonization by Design
The use of orange banners by Israeli soldiers during the campaign, symbolizing calls for renewed Jewish settlements, is a stark reminder of the country’s colonial ambitions. These banners harken back to protests against former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s 2005 decision to evacuate settlers from Gaza. Netanyahu, who resigned from Sharon’s government in protest, appears determined to reverse that decision and restore Jewish control over Gaza.
International law unequivocally deems all Israeli settlements in occupied territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, as illegal. However, Netanyahu’s government has continued to flout these laws with impunity, enabled by Western governments that largely frame Israel’s actions as self-defense.
A Global Failure
Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have remained complicit in Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign. While Biden has expressed concern over Israeli captives, he has shown little sympathy for the decades of suffering endured by Palestinians under occupation. This selective compassion has emboldened Israel to escalate its campaign of violence, all while the international community turns a blind eye.
The United Nations and other global bodies have been rendered impotent. Ajith Sunghay, the UN Human Rights Office chief for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, revealed that Israel has consistently blocked aid deliveries to northern Gaza. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has decried the “non-stop” bombing and forced evacuations as violations of humanitarian law.
Netanyahu’s True Goal
Netanyahu’s mantra of “total victory” is not about security—it is about reshaping Gaza for settler expansion. The systematic destruction of Palestinian homes, the starvation of civilians, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid all point to a deliberate strategy of ethnic cleansing.
As the world watches this tragedy unfold, the true cost of Netanyahu’s undeclared war objectives is measured in lives lost, communities erased, and a region pushed further into chaos.