In its assault on northern Gaza, Israel has taken its depraved campaign to new depths | Owen Jones

Healthcare facilities burn, food and water are blocked and drones shoot their fleeing targets. Yet we cannot say we were not warned

The killing fields of northern Gaza speak of a crime that was confessed to long ago. The Israeli state is creating a lifeless desert" and an unliveable wasteland", says Medecins Sans Frontieres, effectively emptying out the whole north of the Strip of Palestinian life". Even by the standards of Israel's year-long genocidal assault, this autumn's attacks on the north have been defined by shocking levels of depravity. Yet almost a year ago, this very outcome was detailed on the pages of a seemingly obscure British journal.

Giora Eiland is a retired Israeli general who - according to US diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks - described Gaza as a huge concentration camp" in 2004. He is the former head of Israel's national security council, and says he is now acting as an adviser to Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.