Israeli President David Grossman described the situation in the Gaza Strip as genocide, Agence France-Presse reported. He did so in an interview with the Italian publication “Repubblica“, BTA reported.
"For years I refused to use the term “genocide“. But now I can't help but use it, after what I read in the newspapers, after the footage I saw and after talking to people who were there," Grossman said.
"I want to speak as a man who did everything he could to prevent Israel from being defined as a genocidal state," he stressed.
"And now with immense pain and a broken heart I must state what is happening before my eyes. "Genocide". It's an avalanche word, once you say it, it swells like an avalanche. "And it brings even more destruction and suffering," added Grossman, whose works have been translated into many languages, including French, English and Italian.
Asked what he thought when he read the figures related to the deaths in Gaza, Grossman said: "I feel bad."
"To mention the words "Israel" and "hunger" together, to do so starting from our history, from the sensitivity that we are supposed to have for the suffering of humanity, from the moral responsibility that we have always said we have for every human being and not just Jews... All of this is devastating," Grossman said.
He stressed that he believes desperately in the idea of two states - Palestine and Israel, mainly because he sees no alternative. Grossman welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's desire to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
"I think it's a good idea and I don't understand the hysteria with which it was greeted in Israel," Grossman said.
"It's clear that there must be precise conditions - no weapons. And guarantees of transparent elections, from which anyone who thinks of using force against Israel is excluded," the writer added.