An Israeli lawmaker from the leftist Hadash coalition, Ofer Cassif, has informed that his party had forewarned about events like the recent Hamas attack on Israel, should the government persist in its controversial occupation of Palestinian territories, Al Jazeera reported.
During the assault on Saturday, Hamas launched a multipronged attack with thousands of rockets aimed at Israel, as well as infiltrating Israeli towns and illegal settlements with their fighters. This resulted in over 600 Israeli casualties, including numerous soldiers. Additionally, over 1,700 Palestinians were injured, and at least 313 lost their lives in the Israeli bombardments on the besieged Gaza enclave.
Cassif emphasized the need to understand these incidents in the context of the ongoing occupation. He criticized the Israeli government, referring to it as a fascist regime, accusing it of supporting and leading attacks on Palestinians. He also highlighted the ethnic cleansing and the tragic consequences for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
More than 20,000 Palestinians sought refuge in UN schools further inside Hamas-controlled territory due to the escalating conflict. The situation is considered particularly precarious given the far-right Israeli government’s struggle with this unprecedented security breach and the despair felt by Palestinians due to the ongoing occupation and blockade.
Cassif expressed doubt about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s priorities, suggesting that his main concern was personal survival and avoiding legal troubles rather than the well-being of citizens, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
The escalation raises concerns about a broader regional conflict, as demonstrated by Hezbollah’s recent actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Cassif emphasized the urgency of ending the occupation to halt the bloodshed.
