How Israel’s dehumanisation of Palestinians stokes the slaughter in Gaza

As Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew from the Bible to paint all Palestinians as enemies of the Jewish people.

"Remember what Amalek has done to you," he said, referring to an ancient people mentioned in the Bible that the people of Israel are commanded to fight and destroy.

Since then, ministers, MPs, journalists and other public figures have continued the campaign to dehumanise Palestinians. Even Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, has said there are no innocent people in Gaza, a common refrain legitimising the bombing and starvation meted out on the entire enclave.

On Tuesday, Tally Gotliv, an MP from Netanyahu’s Likud party, was interviewed by Israel’s Channel 7 about the fresh military operation in Gaza that is designed to occupy the whole enclave and force its population into a small compound in the south. 

Gotliv noted that the operation was already underway, as Gaza has been subjected to a two-month total siege. "Even before military action, it's starvation. After all, international law does not apply to terrorist organisations," Gotliv said.

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