Senior adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, Mark Regev, has dismissed criticisms from humanitarian organizations regarding Israel’s actions possibly constituting war crimes.
Amidst Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip, where more than 2,300 people have lost their lives, Israel made the decision to cut off power and water to Gaza. The airstrikes came in response to a recent attack by Hamas, which resulted in over 1,300 casualties in Israel.
When questioned about the casualties in Gaza, Regev disputed the reported numbers, attributing them to Hamas. He argued that there was no clear differentiation between combatants and civilians.
Recently, the BBC corroborated a video displaying the aftermath of an attack on a convoy of civilians attempting to escape northern Gaza.
The footage showed at least 12 bodies. While Gaza authorities claim it was an Israeli airstrike, Regev maintained that Israel does not intentionally target innocent civilians who are not involved in combat.
He suggested that some footage emerging from Gaza might be manipulated, though he did not delve into specifics.
Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by various countries, including the UK and the US, has urged Palestinians to disregard Israel’s evacuation directives for northern Gaza.