The Grammar of Israeli Settler Colonial Violence and the Genocidal War Waged on Gaza: from the Nakba to the 7th of October 2023


Abstract


This article analyses the official and unofficial Israeli discourse(s) towards Palestinians since October 7, 2023. These discourses are separate from established historical colonial ones, but the article sheds light on the shifts in semantic structures and uses pertaining to meanings and connotations. First, the article offers examples of official Israeli speeches outlining fundamentally colonial discourses when it comes to arguments and narratives re-employed in the current context of the genocide. Thus, the article examines discourses that fall within the binary structures of the ordinariness of evil; good and evil; progress and savagery; enlightenment and darkness (immorality), and the 'animalization of the Palestinians'. This logic of binarity facilitates calls for forced displacement, urbicide, domicide, annihilations of families, the killing of children, deprivation of food, water and fuel, closures to aid, bombings of cemeteries and hospitals, bombings of Islamic and Christian places of worships, killings of paramedics and volunteers in civil protection and humanitarian aid. Second, the article examines genocidal warfare, which relies on the negation of the existence of Palestinians as a people and community, and the dehumanization's process which allows for the destruction of the land and the people of Palestine. In particular, the article looks at the violence organized against Palestinians of the West Bank since 7th of October, by interrogating the speeches that accompany such acts of violence undertaken by both settlers and military forces. The focus lies on the analysis of the socio-political backgrounds of actors and the discursive and material mobilization of Israeli parties and organizations.

Keywords: Israeli discourse; Settler Colonialism; Genocidal War; discourse(s); Palestine

References


Abdel Jawad S. (2006), “La politique israélienne envers le peuple palestinien”, Inprecor 517, available at: http://juliensalingue.over-blog.com/ext/ http://orta.dynalias.org/inprecor/article-inprecor?id=185

Abu Sitta S. (2000), The Palestinian Nakba, 1948: The register of depopulated localities in Palestine. Londres: Palestinian Return Centre.

Albanese, F. (2024), Genocide as Colonial Erasure, available at: https://www.un.org/unispal/document/genocide-as-colonial-erasure-report-francesca-albanese-01oct24/

Amnesty International (2024), “Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza”, December 5, available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/

Arendt H. (1963), Eichman in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, New York: The Vinking Press.

Balandier G. (1951), “La situation coloniale: approche théorique”, Cahiers internationaux de sociologie, 11: 44-79.

Bartov O. (2025), “Israel’s war in Gaza and the question of genocide”, Critical Research on Religion 13(2): 254-258.

Bell D. (2010), The First Total War: Napoleon’s Europe and the Birth of Warfare as We Know it, New York/ Boston: Houghton Miflin Company.

Boffey D., Jones S. (2023), “Israel’s darkest day: the 24 hours of terror that shook the country”, October 13, available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/13/israel-darkest-day-24-hours-of-terror-hamas-gaza.

Bowen J. R. (2002), “Culture, Genocide, and a Public Anthropology”, In A. Hinton (ed.), Annihilating Difference. The Anthropology of Genocide, Berkeley, University of California Press, pp. 382-395.

Browning C. (1993), Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland, New York: HarperPerennial.

Césaire A. (1950), Discours sur le colonialisme, Paris: Réclame.

Chetrit S. (2010), Intra-Jewish Conflict in Israel: White Jews, Black Jews, London: Routledge.

Chotiner I. (2023),“The Extreme Ambitions of West Bank Settlers”, November 11, avialable at: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-extreme-ambitions-of-west-bank-settlers.

Disclose TV (2023), “NOW - Netanyahu: ‘We are the people of the light, they are the people of darkness... we shall realize the prophecy of Isaiah.’”, October 25, available at: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/oldtime-religion-netanyahu-invokes-scripture-as-hamas-fight-becomes-israels-holy-war/news-story/be3a19446c5e151e087e77b20ebdf145

Dor T. (2021), “Naming Palestine”, Postcolonial Direction in Education, 10(2): 224–237.

Dor T. (2024), “Becoming Anti-Zionist: A Feminist shaking off of Settler Colonial Violence”, Revue Internationale de Politique Comparée, 31(2): 161-192.

Doyle C (2023), “Western silence over Israelis’ genocidal comments speaks volumes”, October 30, available at: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2400096

El Sakka A. (2022), “Re-thinking Conceptual Frameworks to Analyse the Palestinian Colonial Context”, Omran Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, 39(10): 39-69.

El Sakka A. (2023) “A Comparative Reading between the Colonial Cases in Palestine and Algeria”, in N. Rouhana, A. Hawari (eds.), Zionism and Settler Colonialism: Palestinian approaches, Haifa: Mada al-Carmel.

Fanon F. (1965) [1952], Peau noire, masques blancs, Paris: Seuil.

Fanon F. (2002) [1961], Les damnés de la terre, Paris: F. Maspero.

Fassin D. (2023) “Le spectre d’un génocide à Gaza”, available at : https://aoc.media/opinion/2023/10/31/le-spectre-dun-genocide-a-gaza/

FIDH (2025), “657 days of genocide: Israel is starving Palestinians to death”, July 25, available at: https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/israel-palestine/657-days-of-genocide-israel-is-starving-palestinians-to-death.

Givoni O. and Hanafi S. (2009), The power of inclusive exclusion: Anatomy of Israeli rule in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. New York: Zone Books.

Gramsci A. (1971), “The Intellectuals”, In Q. Hoare and G. Nowell-Smith (eds.), Selections from the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci, New York: International Publishers.

Gribaudi, G. (2005), Guerra Totale: Tra bombe alleate e violenze naziste: Napoli e il fronte meridionale, 1940–44, Torino: Bollati Boringhieri.

Guiomar J.Y. (2004), L’Invention de la guerre totale Paris: Le Félin

Human Rights Watch (2023), “Israel: Starvation Used as Weapon of War in Gaza”, December 18, available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza

ICJ (2024), “Application of the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide in the Gaza strip (South Africa v. Israel)”, January 26, available at: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-ord-01-00-en.pdf

Khazzoom A. (2003), “The Great Chain of Orientalism: Jewish Identity, Stigma Management, and Ethnic Exclusion in Israel”, American Sociological Review, 68(4): 481-510.

Khoury E. (2012), “Al-Nakba al-Mustamirra” [The Continuous Nakba]. Majallat Al-Dirasat Filastiniyya (in Arabic) 89, Institute for Palestine Studies: 37–50.

Kimmerling B. (2003), Politicide: Les guerres d’Ariel Sharon contre les Palestiniens, Paris: Agnès Viénot.

Lalaoui-Chialib F. Z. (2010), “Stéréotypes, écrits coloniaux et postcoloniaux : le cas de l’Algérie”, Itinéraires, 1 : 157-171.

Latte Abdallah S. (2024), “Par-delà le futuricide. Quelle après-guerre à Gaza ”, Recherches Internationales, 129:179-186.

Lemkin R. (1946), “Le Crime de génocide”, Revue de Droit International, de Sciences Diplomatiques et Politiques, 24: 212-222.

Levene M. (2005), Genocide in the Age of the Nation State, London, I.B. Tauris.

Mann M. (2005), The Dark Side of Democracy: Explaining Ethnic Cleansing, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mannoni O. (1950), Psychologie de la colonisation, Paris: Seuil.

Mbembe A. (2019), Necropolitics, Durham: Duke University Press.

Memmi A. (1985) [1957], Portrait du colonisé, précédé de Portrait du colonisateur, Paris: Gallimard.

Milgram S. (1974), Obedience to Authority: An experimental view, New York: Harper and Row.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023), “Christmas message from PM Netanyahu”, December 24, available at: https://www.gov.il/en/pages/christmas-message-from-pm-netanyahu-24-dec-2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023), “President Herzog reveals Hamas “Captive Taking Handbook” in CNN interview”, October 10, available at: https://www.gov.il/en/pages/president-herzog-reveals-hamas-captive-taking-handbook-15-oct-2023

Miyashiro A. (2023), “Israel-Palestine war: How racist discourse fuels Israel's settler colonial genocide”, December 14, available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-war-racist-discourse-settler-colonial-genocide-fuels-how

Nader E. (2025), “Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world's leading experts say” BBC, September 1, available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde3eyzdr63o

Nahoum-Grappe V. (1996), “L’usage politique de la cruauté: l’épuration ethnique (ex-Yougoslavie, 1991-1995)”, In F. Héritier (ed.), De la violence, Paris: O. Jacob, pp. 273-323.

Nations Unies (2023), “ Gaza/Israël : « Risque grave de génocide”, November 2, available at : https://unric.org/fr/gaza-israel-risque-grave-de-genocide-rapporteurs-de-lonu/

Nora P. (1984), Les Lieux de mémoire, Paris: Gallimard.

OHCHR, (2025), “No end in sight’: Israeli forces attack occupied West Bank as Gaza ceasefire takes hold, say experts”, January 27, available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/no-end-sight-israeli-forces-attack-occupied-west-bank-gaza-ceasefire-takes

Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (2025), report available at: https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/site/512/default.aspx?tabID=512&lang=en&ItemID=5984&mid=3171&wversion=Staging

Rejwan N. (2006), Outsider in the Promised Land: An Iraqi Jew in Israel, Austin: University of Texas Press.

Rodinson M. (1997) [1967], “Israël, fait colonial ?”, In Rodinson M. (eds.), Peuple juif ou problème juif ?, Paris: La Découverte, pp. 153-239.

Rose J. (2005), The question of Zion, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Rouhana N. (2021), “Religious Claims and Nationalism in Zionism: Obscuring Settler Colonialism”, In N. Rouhana and N. Shalhoub-Kevorkian (eds.), When Politics Are Sacralized: Comparative Perspectives on Religious Claims and Nationalism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 54-87.

Rouhana, N. and Sabbagh-Khoury A (2014), “Settler-colonial Citizenship: Conceptualizing the Relationship between Israeli and its Palestinian Citizens”, Settler Colonial Studies 5(3): 205–225

Salamanca OJ., Qato M., Rabie K. and Sobhi S. (2012), “Past is present, settler colonialism in

Palestine”, Settler Colonial Studies 2(1):1-8.

Shapira A. (1992), Land and Power: The Zionist Resort to Force, 1881-1948, New York: Oxford University Press.

Shaul Y. (2023a), “[9] The spirit of Oslo is still here. And if we don't get rid of it … we will lose again. With Nazis & their assistants, you don't talk. You eradicate evil from the world. Do you want your pop. [in Gaza] to drink? Release the hostages. Now” Amichay Eliyahu, Minister of Heritage”, October 25, available at: https://x.com/YehudaShaul/status/1717219198605168707

Shaul Y. (2023b), “[19] “the terrorists receive the most stringent conditions, eight handcuffed terrorists in a dark cell, iron beds, toilets in a hole in the floor and Hatikvah [the IL National Anthem] playing on a loop in the background.” Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security”, December 26, available at: https://x.com/YehudaShaul/status/1739641295230976065

Shaul Y. (2023c), “[21] ‘A leadership that has mercy on monsters who massacred us is not worthy of leadership. A ceasefire for several hours is surrender, it is weakness, humiliation … Without crushing Hamas and razing Gaza, we will not have the right to exist’. Revital Gottlieb - Likud MK”, published October 17, available at: https://x.com/YehudaShaul/status/1714302002111430835

Shaul Y. (2023d), “[17] “Annexing areas C is a must thing… Annexing the northern part of the Gaza Strip is a must… It is important to note that the value of the land is not only biblical but gives us a geopolitical depth and a grip on the territory…” Eliahu Behruz Yusian, HaBithonistim”, December 26, available at: https://x.com/YehudaShaul/status/1739641288864014667

Shaw M. (2004), “New Wars of the City: Relationships of ‘Urbicide’ and ‘Genocide’”, Cities, War and Terrorism, Oxford: Graham S. Blackwell Publishing, 141-153.

Shehadeh A. (2025), “The Multiplicity and Weakness of Israeli Voices Opposing the War on Gaza”, available at: efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mada-research.org/storage/PDF/2025/%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9%20%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D9%85%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81%2068%20.pdf

Shenhav Y. A. (2006), The Arab Jews: A Postcolonial Reading of Nationalism, Religion, and Ethnicity, Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Shoat E. (1988), “Sephardim in Israel: Zionism from the Standpoint of Its Jewish Victims”, Social Text, 19/20: 1-35.

Shoat E. (1999), “The Invention of the Mizrahim”, Journal of Palestine Studies, 29(1): 5- 20.

Shohat E. (2017), On the Arab-Jew, Palestine, and other Displacements. Selected Writings of Ella Shohat, London: Pluto Press.

Sommier, I. (2002), “Du ‘terrorisme’ comme violence totale?”, Revue internationale des sciences sociales, 4(174): 525–533.

Dana T. and Jarbawi A (2017), “A Century of Settler Colonialism in Palestine: Zionism's Entangled Project”, Brown Journal of World Affairs, 24(1): 197-220.

Tilly C. (1990), Coercion, Capital, and European States, AD 990–1990 Cambridge: Blackwell.

Treisman R., Inskeep S (2023), “Netanyahu says Gaza needs a new 'civilian government,' but won't say who”, October 17, available at: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/17/1213684429/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-hamas-gaza

United Nations Special Committee (2024), “A genocide is unfolding before our eyes: History will not forgive our inaction, UN Special Committee warns General Assembly 4th Committee report”, November 19, available at: https://archive.ph/20250410202716/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/un-special-committee-press-release-19nov24/#selection-1171.0-1182.0.

Veracini L. (2010), Settler Colonialism: A Theoretical Overview, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wacquant, L. (1997), “Elias in the dark ghetto”, Amsterdams Sociologisch Tijdschrift, 24(3-4): 340-348.

Williamson L. (2025), “Israeli settlers in West Bank see Trump win as chance to go further”, January 10, available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpgpj8kzwo

Wofle P. (2006), “Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the Native”, Journal of Genocide Research, 8(4): 387-409.


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
کاغذ a4 ویزای استارتاپ
Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 3.0 Italia License.