Ex-Israeli PM Condemns Government 'Thugs' Carrying Out 'War Crimes' in Gaza
By Jason Lemon
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert condemned the "thugs" in the government of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, doubling down on his accusation that they are committing "war crimes" against Palestinians in Gaza.
Olmert's comments came during an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria on his show GPS, in which the former Israeli leader discussed a recent opinion article he wrote for Israeli newspaper Haaretz titled: "Enough Is Enough. Israel Is Committing War Crimes."
"What Netanyahu is doing, and a group of thugs, which are part of his Cabinet, is polarizing the Israeli society," he said. The former prime minister said that it's "important" that the international community know that these current Israeli leaders are not the "voice" of his country.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declined to comment when contacted by Newsweek on Sunday.
Newsweek reached out to the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
The strong rebuke from a former Israeli leader is significant, particularly as it aligns with many international and domestic critics of the current government's actions against Palestinians. Olmert served as Israel's prime minister from 2006 to 2009, and as deputy prime minister and the mayor of Jerusalem prior to that.
"Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war," Olmert wrote in his Haaretz article published on Tuesday. "The criminal gang headed by Benjamin Netanyahu has set a precedent without equal in Israel's history in this area, too."
What to Know
The former prime minister said during his Sunday CNN interview that there is "no objective" that Israel can achieve through expanding its military operations in Gaza.
"Thousands of non-involved Palestinians are going to be killed as a result of further military operations, which almost no one in Israel thinks is at this time valid and is going to achieve anything of value," he said.
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Olmert slammed Israeli ministers, describing them as the "thugs of the Cabinet," who have called for "starving Gaza." He said the Israeli government officials have called for all Palestinians to be "wiped out" and "starved."
"This is a war crime. There is no other word to describe it but a war crime," he said.
Last week, the former prime minister shared similar comments in an interview with NPR.
"The fact that senior Israeli ministers in the Cabinet called expressly and explicitly to deny any humanitarian needs from the people in Gaza, a couple of million people living in Gaza, and they say they should all starve and be demolished. This is a call for war crime by the many senior ministers in the Cabinet," he said.
Ehud Olmert
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert attends a demonstration against the Israeli government's controversial justice reform bill, in Tel Aviv on March 1, 2023.
How the Current Gaza War Began
The war was sparked by an October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist group, and allied Palestinian factions against Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 251. Today, around 58 people, fewer than half of whom are believed to still be alive, remain captive in Gaza.
Meanwhile, over 54,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-led Palestinian Health Ministry in the war-torn territory, amid Israel's subsequent military campaign. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has assessed that up to 20,000 Hamas fighters have been killed, while recording more than 400 deaths among its own ranks.
Ongoing Ceasefire Talks
President Donald Trump continues to push for a ceasefire deal, with his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff serving as the administration's point person in discussions. While a proposal is currently under discussion, Hamas and Israel appear to remain at odds over the details.
"Last week we came to an agreement and understanding with him on a proposal, which he deemed acceptable for negotiation," Basem Naim, member of political bureau in Hamas, told Newsweek on Saturday. "We were then presented with the Israeli response, which disagreed with all the provisions we had agreed upon."
"Nevertheless, we now responded positively and responsibly in a manner that fulfilled the minimum of demands and aspirations of our people," the Hamas official said. He accused the U.S. of violating "the integrity and fairness" of the mediation process, accusing the Trump administration of being biased toward Israel.
"Why, each time, is the Israeli response considered the only response for negotiation?" he asked.
The comment from Hamas came after Witkoff described the Palestinian militant group's response as "totally unacceptable."
"Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week," Witkoff wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.
What People Are Saying
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month: "If there's an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring back hostages, we are prepared for that."
President Donald Trump to reporters last week: "Israel, we've been talking to them, and we want to see if we can stop that whole situation as quickly as possible."
What Happens Next
The ceasefire talks are expected to continue, but it's unclear when and how the ongoing conflict will be resolved.
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