Leaked audio sparks outrage as ex-Israeli intelligence chief calls Gaza deaths ‘necessary’

International leaders are increasingly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy in Gaza

In newly leaked audio, former Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva can be heard saying that the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are “necessary and required for future generations.” The recording, aired by Israel’s Channel 12, includes Haliva declaring that for every person killed in Hamas’s October 7 attack, 50 Palestinians “must die,” regardless of whether they were children, CNN reported.

Context of remarks

Haliva headed Israeli military intelligence during the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault that left 1,200 Israelis dead and about 250 kidnapped. He resigned in April 2024, citing “leadership responsibility” for the failures that enabled the attack. In the recordings, he appears to justify the Gaza death toll, which crossed 50,000 earlier this year, saying periodic large-scale suffering was needed for Palestinians “to feel the price.”

Fallout and criticism

Haliva later said the comments were made in a closed forum and were taken out of context, insisting they do not reflect the full picture of complex, classified issues. Still, the remarks have intensified criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign, with rights groups and even Western allies raising alarms. Hamas condemned the audio as evidence that high civilian deaths are part of Israel’s official policy.

Growing international backlash

International leaders are increasingly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy in Gaza. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Netanyahu had “lost the plot,” while Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called him “a problem in himself.” Meanwhile, the United Nations and several human rights groups have warned Israel’s actions may meet the threshold of genocide, a charge Israel denies.

Official response

The Israeli military insists its conduct complies with international law and rejects genocide accusations. Haliva, for his part, has said the leaked fragments are misleading and fail to capture the broader discussion. Yet the remarks underscore the widening gulf between Israel’s official stance and the perception among its critics that civilian casualties are not simply collateral damage but part of a deliberate policy.