Israel's Actions in Gaza Spark Global Outrage, Accusations of Genocide
Israel's actions in Palestine have sparked international outrage, with critics accusing the country of perpetuating a zero-sum narrative that prioritises Jewish safety over Palestinian rights and humanity. This narrative, they argue, has led to a cycle of violence and death, with devastating consequences for the Palestinian people.
The recent escalation in violence has seen nearly 300 Palestinians killed since June 1, adding to the already staggering death toll of over 55,000. Scores of buildings have been levelled, and 84% of Palestine's healthcare facilities have been destroyed or damaged. Israel's actions have been condemned as genocide by definition, as they have caused serious bodily and mental harm to Palestinians.
This violence is fuelled by a rhetoric of dehumanisation. Rabbi Eliyahu Mali called for the killing of every living person in Palestine, including children and the elderly. Reserve soldiers have confessed to receiving orders to shoot first and ask questions later, leading to the deaths of innocent civilians. Several government ministers have made statements advocating the intent to destroy the Palestinians in Palestine, in whole or in part. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have compared Palestinians to 'human beasts', echoing rhetoric seen in the Rwandan genocide.
Despite the severity of these actions and rhetoric, no verified information confirms that any Israeli government officials have directly or indirectly called for genocide in the Palestine Strip in the past year and a half. The Netanyahu government insists that the fighting will continue until Israel achieves 'a total victory', which remains elusive 20 months later. The international community continues to urge Israel to respect Palestinian rights and humanity, and to end the cycle of violence and destruction in Palestine.
