Former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief Herzi Halevi revealed that more than 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded in the Gaza war. His statement directly challenges Israel’s official stance, which often dismisses Gaza’s reported figures as unreliable.
Halevi Reveals Grim Toll
Earlier this week, Halevi spoke at a community meeting in southern Israel. He stated that over 10 percent of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have been killed or injured since the war began. “More than 200,000 people,” Halevi declared, underlining the massive scale of destruction.
Previously, Halevi served as IDF chief of staff for 17 months before stepping down in March. The conflict is now nearing its second anniversary, making his revelation even more significant.
Furthermore, his estimate closely aligns with Gaza’s health ministry numbers, which report 64,718 deaths and 163,859 injuries since the war started on October 7, 2023. Thousands more are feared dead, trapped beneath collapsed buildings and rubble.
On Friday alone, at least 40 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes, mostly near Gaza City.
Israeli Leaders Often Reject Gaza Figures
However, Halevi’s acknowledgment is striking because Israeli officials have long dismissed Gaza’s health ministry data as Hamas propaganda. In contrast, international aid groups, including major humanitarian agencies, consider these figures credible and accurate.
During his speech, Halevi admitted that Israel used overwhelming force from the very start of the war. “This isn’t a gentle war. We took the gloves off from the first minute. Sadly, not earlier,” he said.
He addressed the people of Ein HaBesor, a farming community that fought off Hamas attackers during the October 7 assault two years ago. A recording of his remarks was later published by Ynet News.
No One Is Working Gently
Moreover, Halevi stressed that the IDF operated under international humanitarian law. “No one is working gently,” he added, pointing to the aggressive military tactics employed by Israel.
For years, Israeli leaders have claimed that military lawyers review operations to ensure legality. Nevertheless, Halevi insisted that legal advice never influenced his decisions or those of his top commanders. “Not once has anyone restricted me. Not once,” he stated.
He aslo added that, “Not the military AG [advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi] who, by the way, doesn’t have the authority to restrict me.”
According to Halevi, the main role of legal advisers is to defend Israel’s actions globally, not to limit them. “There are legal advisers who say: We will know how to defend this legally in the world, and this is very important for the state of Israel,” he explained.
Human Rights Lawyer Responds
As a result, Halevi’s comments drew criticism from human rights activists. Michael Sfard, a well-known Israeli human rights lawyer, said Halevi confirmed that military lawyers are merely symbolic.
“The generals see them as ‘regular’ advisers whose advice one can adopt or dismiss, not as professional lawyers whose legal positions present the boundaries of what is permissible and what is prohibited,” Sfard said.
New Report Adds to Controversy
Meanwhile, Halevi’s remarks came just days after Haaretz reported a dispute between current IDF chief Eyal Zamir and advocate general Tomer-Yerushalmi.
According to the report, Tomer-Yerushalmi advised delaying the evacuation of around one million Gaza City residents. She warned that southern Gaza lacked the infrastructure to safely accommodate them. Despite this advice, Zamir moved forward with the evacuation orders, ignoring her concerns.
War Nears Second Year
As the war nears its second anniversary, Halevi’s statements highlight the staggering human cost of the conflict. Additionally, they expose divisions within Israel’s military leadership over the handling of operations in Gaza.
Ultimately, Halevi’s revelations raise serious questions about civilian suffering, military accountability, and the future of Israel’s strategy in one of the region’s most devastating wars.