Israel’s true objective in northern Gaza? Removing Palestinians – and annexing the territory | Ben Reiff

Brig Gen Itzik Cohen , a senior IDF officer, quietly admitted ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza .

He boasted that Israel ’s forces were getting closer to the “complete evacuation” of Jabaliya , Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya .

Israel claims its current operation in north Gaza was launched to quell Hamas attempts to re-establish a foothold in the area.

But senior defence officials told Haaretz that the political echelon was pushing for a different goal altogether: annexation.

For more than a year , international pressure has failed to put the brakes on Israel ’s crazed onslaught on Gaza .

International courts are unable to keep pace with the carnage on the ground, while a series of empty threats from Washington have further emboldened Israel 's far-right government and its base.