TEL AVIV: An Israeli lawmaker has directly linked the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands and massacres of innocent Palestinians to the recent wave of escalation in the Middle East, including Saturday’s multipronged assault by the Palestinian resistance Hamas group.
Ofer Cassif, a member of the Knesset and a representative of the leftist Hadash coalition, emphasized that his party had repeatedly warned about such events if the Israeli government continued its violence against innocent Palestinians and illegal occupation policies.
Hamas launched a large-scale attack at dawn on Saturday, involving thousands of rockets fired at Israel and fighters infiltrating Israeli towns and illegal settlements. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 600 Israelis, including dozens of soldiers. Meanwhile, Israeli bombardments of the besieged Gaza enclave have led to the martyrdom of at least 313 Palestinians, with more than 1,700 others wounded.
Israeli Forces Massacres Against Innocent Palestinians
Cassif condemned any assault on innocent civilians, stressing that this condemnation applied to both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. He urged understanding the recent attacks in the context of the ongoing occupation, highlighting the persistent warning signs.
“We have been warning time and time again… everything is going to erupt, and everybody is going to pay a price for the Israeli government’s violence – mainly innocent civilians on both sides. And unfortunately, that is exactly what happened,” Cassif stated.
He went on to describe the Israeli government as a “fascist government,” accusing it of supporting, encouraging, and leading pogroms against Palestinians and perpetrating ethnic cleansing. Cassif emphasized that these actions were evident in the bloodshed of Palestinians and, tragically, now also among Israelis.
ירי על אזרחים חפים מפשע הוא פשע מלחמה, בין אם הירי על עזה, שדרות או ת"א. אבל הכתובת היתה על הקיר. למה ציפו כהנאי הממשלה ופורעי ההתנחבלויות, שהפלסטינים ישבו בשקט אל מול הפוגרומים והפלישות לאלאקצא?
ממשלת הדם הגזע והדמעות סכנה לכולנו! https://t.co/UpYmjmIcax— Ofer Cassif עופר כסיף عوفر كسيف (@ofercass) October 7, 2023
Cassif’s remarks underscore the urgency for reevaluating policies and finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the region faces one of the deadliest escalations in recent years.
