The site of a deadly fire, after an Israeli strike hit a tent area in the courtyard of Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP)

The Guardian on Thursday published an opinion piece detailing the Machiavellian worldview of Israeli officials, particularly that of Giora Eiland, a retired general and former head of "Israel's" police council.

According to writer Owen Jones, Eiland's approach to the war on Gaza epitomizes a ruthless, pragmatic strategy that prioritizes military objectives above humanitarian concerns. In a series of public statements and writings, including an article in Fathom journal, Eiland has unapologetically advocated for extreme measures to depopulate Gaza and render it uninhabitable.

These measures include blockading essential resources like water and fuel, enforcing mass displacement, and creating conditions so intolerable that Palestinians would have no choice but to leave, effectively carrying out a project of ethnic cleansing.

Eiland has previously described Gaza as a "huge concentration camp" and backed policies that target civilians by cutting off access to food, water, and healthcare, arguing that such suffering is necessary to achieve "Israel's" military goals.

His comments, such as endorsing the spread of epidemics to reduce Palestinian numbers and thereby minimize casualties among Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) soldiers, underline his willingness to embrace mass human suffering as a tactical advantage.

Eiland's role in shaping Israeli policies on Gaza

The opinion piece in The Guardian also highlights Eiland's role in shaping "Israel's" controversial policies toward Gaza, particularly the "generals' plan" that involves sealing off northern Gaza, declaring it a closed military zone, and treating any remaining civilians as legitimate targets.

Despite the public denials of Israeli authorities, parts of this plan appear to be in operation, according to reports from Israeli reservists and humanitarian workers on the ground.

This Machiavellian perspective extends to Eiland's dismissal of humanitarian concerns, including his explicit rejection of sympathy for Gaza's women and children. In one instance, he argued that Palestinians would soon be showing images of babies dying in incubators due to power outages caused by fuel shortages, but insisted that such suffering was a "necessary condition" for "Israel" to secure its survival.

The article underscores how this mindset is not isolated to Eiland but represents a broader, entrenched strategy within Israeli military and political circles, one that sees the complete subjugation and control of Gaza as a key to long-term security.

Eiland's brutal vision for Gaza, as laid out in his writings, suggests a future where the region is systematically emptied of its Palestinian population, either through displacement or deprivation. His plans, which involve the intentional destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, water supplies, and infrastructure, have led many to accuse "Israel" of committing war crimes.

No safe passage

Liz Allcock from Medical Aid for Palestinians, who spent time in Gaza for several months, told The Guardian that "Israel's" evacuation orders give "the impression people will have safe passage, and they absolutely do not have safe passage". According to the latest analytics, a mere 150 Palestinians have moved south in the past few weeks, she said.

Another humanitarian worker from the UN told The Guardian that they witnessed the bodies of Palestinians lying by the roadside, visibly shot despite being unarmed. Commenting on those who have still managed to survive, the official said: "They're not living any kind of life, they're surviving day to day, and some prefer to die at home instead of having to move again, since safety is not guaranteed anywhere."

"I speak to people there every day and they're either terrified or have completely given up on life," the official added.

Allcock describes the dire situation in Gaza, where nowhere is safe, and many Palestinians prefer to stay in the north, facing death rather than move south and endure more suffering. Dr. Nizam Mamode, who volunteered at Nasser hospital, reports that two-thirds of the victims treated were women and children, many injured by Israeli drones.

With 86% of Gaza under forced displacement orders, a UN report reveals that "Israel" is systematically destroying Gaza's healthcare system, with deliberate attacks on medical facilities, which the UN has labeled as a "crime against humanity."