'Israel' evokes WWII rhetoric for justification of genocide in Gaza
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The frequent references to World War II rhetoric while talking about the war on Gaza have sparked widespread backlash and disapproval.
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A little child pulled from under the rubble in the wake of the Israeli massacre in the Jabalia refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip, on October 31, 2023. (Twitter)
Amid the ongoing aggression on Gaza, Israeli officials have delved deeper into historical references to justify their atrocities. When questioned by international journalists regarding civilian casualties in Gaza during a press briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referenced a British bombing raid from nearly eight decades ago that resulted in the deaths of children.
“In 1944, the Royal Air Force bombed the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen. It’s a perfectly legitimate target. But the British pilots missed and instead of the Gestapo headquarters, they hit a children’s hospital nearby. And I think 84 children were burned to death,” he said.
“That is not a war crime. That is not something you blame Britain for doing. That was a legitimate act of war with tragic consequences that accompany such legitimate actions,” he added.
UNICEF: Gaza a 'graveyard' for children #UNICEF spokesperson #JamesElder has reiterated calls on the need for a humanitarian ceasefire in #Gaza, as "Israel's" #genocide in the strip has so far led to the martyrdom of more than 3,500 children.https://t.co/W14ApwDFhB
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 1, 2023
The bankrupt Israeli officials have been incorporating references to more than just the history of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle or the 2001 attacks on the United States that initiated the alleged "War on Terror." They now draw parallels to one of the most catastrophic wars in human history: World War II.
It's important to highlight that the so-called "War on Terror" was used as a pretext to "legitimize" the deaths of millions of civilians in countries like Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and others. This war was a means to exploit their natural resources, disrupt their social structures, and devastate their economies, all with the aim of establishing compliant puppet governments if the need arose.
During the same press conference, Netanyahu responded to ceasefire calls by citing the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. The New York Times also noted that other Israeli politicians have made similar rhetorical arguments, alluding to the extensive bombing campaigns carried out by the United States and its allies in Germany and Japan during World War II, including the deployment of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in their efforts to defeat those nations.
During a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, the infamous Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, and his team in New York wore yellow stars in reference to Jews in Germany and certain countries who were compelled to wear similar stars in the lead-up to World War II. The stars donned by Erdan and his team bore the message: "Never Again".
Drawing historical comparisons as justifications in a contemporary struggle can be fraught with risks, argues The Washington Post reporter Adam Taylor.
In an analysis published by The Washington Post, Taylor acknowledged that Netanyahu made an error by stating that the Royal Air Force bombed a children's hospital in 1944. Additionally, the historical example he cited is more complex than his rhetoric implies.
Ongoing discussions persist regarding the military justification for the bombing raid on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, considering the significant civilian casualties and the already imminent German defeat at that stage. Initially, the Royal Air Force had resisted the request to target the secret police facility, which was put forth by the Danish resistance to liberate prisoners and eliminate confiscated documents. This reluctance was primarily due to the location of the facility in a densely populated area.
The frequent references to World War II rhetoric while talking about the war on Gaza have sparked widespread backlash and disapproval. That’s the take offered by Taylor who argued that certain actions by the Allies during World War II might meet today's criteria for war crimes.
It's important to emphasize that accusations of war crimes remain allegations until they are legally assessed by a court, as per Taylor.
The International Criminal Court, established to handle such cases when other avenues fail, wasn't operational until 2002, and it's worth noting that "Israel" is not a signatory to this court.
In Taylor's view, Netanyahu's statements on Monday left little room for discussion. By citing the Copenhagen incident, he implied that warfare frequently leads to “tragic consequences".
However, according to Taylor, there are complicated factors that need to be weighed, such as the "principle of proportionality," which prohibits military action that was expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life that is “excessive” compared to the military results expected. On those sorts of issues, it should be possible to weigh events on their own merits.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza resulted in over 100 martyrs and more than 300 injuries on Tuesday. Israeli officials did not contest these reports but claimed that the airstrikes were aimed at a high-ranking member of the Resistance, Ibrahim Biari, who was allegedly killed.
“This is the tragedy of war,” stated Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht when discussing the reported civilian casualties, echoing language similar to Netanyahu's reference to the tragic loss of schoolchildren in 1945.
Less than 24 hours after the Jabalia massacre, the Israeli occupation committed another massacre in Jabalia refugee camp, murdering dozens, mostly women and children.
In less than 24 hours, "Israel" just committed another massacre in the #Jabalia camp in northern #Gaza, bombing a residential block.#GazaUnderAttack#Palestine pic.twitter.com/MMYIP9a5AJ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 1, 2023
#Watch | The aftermath of the second Israeli massacre in #Jabalia camp in northern #Gaza.#GazaUnderAttack #Palestine pic.twitter.com/E16ZMP40rd
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 1, 2023
Another Massacre in Jabalia !
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) November 1, 2023
Israeli warplanes carpet bombed another neighborhood. 9 houses straight in the vicinity of Altauba mosque. Tens of killed on the scene.
Lord, have mercy! pic.twitter.com/3jwb9Kotg8
In the Gaza Strip, where "Israel" is committing genocide, resulting in the killing of over 8,500 Palestinians including 3,542 children, survivors are trapped and unable to find a haven. They are also deprived of food, water, medicine, and fuel due to the total Israeli blockade on the Strip.
Drawing parallels to one of the most catastrophic wars in human history aligns with a widespread misinformation and incitement campaign through various media outlets and social platforms. The primary targets of this campaign are Palestinians, and it aims to dehumanize and demonize them, potentially paving the way to "justify" genocide.
The Israeli occupation has reportedly intensified its efforts to manipulate public perception and shape the narrative surrounding the ongoing Israeli brutality. Traditional media, as well as social media platforms like YouTube and X, have become battlegrounds for this disinformation campaign.
