Division Commander Itzik Cohen, leading Division 162 operating in northern Gaza, told reporters that his orders are clear: “No one is returning to the northern part... My task is to create a cleansing of the area.”

Israeli military officials have confirmed that the northern part of Gaza will remain uninhabitable following Israel’s brutal attacks on the region.

Division Commander Itzik Cohen, leading Division 162 operating in northern Gaza, told reporters, according to Haaretz, that his orders are clear: “No one is returning to the northern part… We received very clear orders. My task is to create a cleansing of the area.”

This statement comes amid growing reports of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza. Reports indicate that Israel has forced the displacement of nearly all residents from areas like Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya.

The forced evacuations, achieved through a combination of aerial bombings, starvation, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, have left tens of thousands without homes or access to basic necessities. Systematic DisplacementAccording to the report, Israel has deliberately targeted residential buildings, schools, and shelters where displaced Palestinians sought refuge.

The destruction has driven a mass exodus of civilians from northern Gaza, with the Israeli military making it clear that no residents will be allowed to return. These actions align with a premeditated strategy of ethnic cleansing as part of the “Generals’ Plan“.Brigadier General Elad Goren, head of the so-called “humanitarian effort” in Gaza, further exacerbated these concerns by stating that those remaining in Jabalia have “enough aid” from previous supplies, while asserting that Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya are now devoid of inhabitants. 

His remarks suggest a calculated approach to starving and displacing civilians, directly contradicting claims of humanitarian efforts.

The Israeli army repeatedly denied adopting the “Generals’ Plan,” which calls for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City and its surroundings under starvation and bombings.

Last week, the Biden administration decided to maintain its military aid to Israel, despite mounting evidence of Israel’s systematic starvation campaign against Gaza, claiming that Israel has not breached American laws on blocking aid supplies.

Earlier on the same day, Israel’s Defence Ministry confirmed that it has no immediate plans to send aid to the besieged northern Gaza Strip.