Israeli Defense Minister Announces Siege On Gaza To Fight ‘Human Animals’
Israeli Defense Minister Announces Siege On Gaza To Fight ‘Human Animals’
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for denying Palestinian people electricity, food, water and fuel as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza.
Excerpt:
While it appears that Gallant was specifically referring to Hamas fighters in that comment, the rest of the minister’s remarks called for further oppression of all people in Gaza by denying them basic human needs.
“We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza,” Gallant said. “There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed.”
It is not uncommon for oppressive regimes to use language that dehumanizes the oppressed population in order to justify inflicting violence on them. In the case of Israel’s apartheid, Gallant’s comments contribute to an atmosphere where it’s easier for anti-Palestinian individuals and politicians ― including Israel’s current far-right government ― to regard people in Gaza as less than human, and therefore undeserving of water, food, electricity or a way to escape violence.
“Defense Minister Gallant’s statements are abhorrent,” Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at the rights group Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Monday.
