“You must remember what Amalek has done to you,” declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the October 7, 2023, attack. Since then, Israel has unleashed a devastating war on Gaza: more than 62,000 civilians killed, entire neighborhoods flattened by over 100,000 tons of explosives, over 200 Palestinian journalists targeted, and famine spreading rapidly. The stated goal was to defeat Hamas and free Israeli hostages. But Israel’s actions so far tell a different story. Is this truly about Hamas, or is it something far more deadly?
Israel’s far-right coalition has gone on record referencing religious text to justify its actions in Gaza. The rhetoric suggests something dark- an offensive to erase Palestinians all together. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, stated “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly”. President Isaac Herzog said “It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. This rhetoric about civilians not being aware, not involved, it’s absolutely not true”. These aren’t just regular citizens spouting this language. They are people in the highest positions of power in Israeli society. It echoes the sentiments of an ideology thought long gone, Kahanism. Kahanism is a Jewish supremacist ideology, created by Rabbi Meir Kahane in the late 60s. The belief entails that Jews and Arabs cannot co-exist, and all Palestinians must be expelled from all of historic Palestine-which includes Gaza, East Jerusalem, The West Bank, and what is known today as the State of Israel. In other words, all the land that Palestinians lived on historically. Kahane often called for violence against Palestinians as a means of achieving these objectives. Even more disturbing is how followers of the Kahanist movement are in office today. Officials like Itamir Ben-Gvir, who have often been described as “a disciple of Kahane”, serve as Minister of National Security. Another example is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who, when asked about Palestinians in an interview, responded: “They are not human beings, they are animals, and they must be treated as such.”
The results of the war have coincided with this dangerous religious ideology. Key infrastructure has been destroyed- universities, mosques, churches, hospitals, and more razed to the ground by advanced military technology, provided by the United States. The World Bank and the United Nations have reported that about 62% of homes have either been damaged or destroyed, 84% of health facilities have been either impaired or completely annihilated, the entire water and sanitation system has collapsed, and 92% of roads are damaged or out of service. Between this, the rapidly rising death toll, and the approved initiative by Netanyahu and the security cabinet to occupy Gaza City, the implications are chilling.
What does this mean for the US and the world? Elected officials have continued to pass motions to keep supplying Israel with billions of US dollars’ worth of weapons. The Trump administration has shown no signs of slowing down support for Israel, despite leading genocide experts declaring that Israel is actively committing a genocide. Several international organizations are fiercely calling for a ceasefire to allow aid trucks for the citizens inside the region. On the flip side, nations like South Africa, Columbia, Jordan, Chile, Turkey, and more, have completely severed ties with Israel over humanitarian concerns. Its been clear for decades- The Israeli government intends to commit a genocide against the Palestinians. Their brutality and illegal actions since October 7th have displayed their intent to the world. The wider question is not only what Israel intends. It also includes what we, as Americans, are willing to fund. Do we keep bankrolling this war, or do we stand for democracy and human rights? Journalists must stop being killed by Israel, aid must be allowed inside the region, and the world must demand a permanent ceasefire.
This was intellectually underwhelming.