In preparation for a massive retaliatory operation against Hamas, Israel has instructed the population of Northern Gaza to evacuate. Effectively, the IDF put 1 million people on notice of imminent destruction. We know why the IDF issued the order. It wants to minimize civilian casualties. But apart from the practical and humanitarian question of where such a huge mass of people are supposed to go and how they are to support themselves, we must face the question: What kind of place is Gaza, that it can be subject to such instructions? How can a territory that is home to more than 2 million people be disposed of in this way? Why are there no powerful interests that react against the ruthless logic of a military campaign that simply designates a city for destruction? How did Gaza and its people become so isolated, so absolutely objectified?
Interesting that Hamas is here discussed extensively but never, in this telling, attacks Israel. Instead, it seems to be a business organization with some bad luck in the market.
Do you honestly believe the evacuation order is for humanitarian purposes? Even if it was possible to displace 1M in a day out of Gaza, do you think those who took refuge would be allowed to return to Gaza?
Brilliant article providing the historical facts and bringing clarity. I have been waiting for you to write about Gaza, Mr. Tooze. The truth has been shrouded in ignorance and fear. The comments by readers express rabid polemics, and clearly, a microcosm of the hatred and deflection of the truth that has always galvanized the atrocities against the Palestinian people, not just against Hamas. This comment by Jason Eis is a perfect example of gaslighting that suppresses the plight of the Palestinians, "both the Jews and Palestinian are the victims of European anti-semitism, or perhaps the Arab colonialists of the 7th and 8th centuries, or is it all because of the Romans, etc. In fact, though the article feels decidedly pro-Palestinian, the true basis of its arguments (we respond only to our context) only means that no one is really responsible for anything." In a circular fashion this psychobabble that otherwise sentient beings mouth while Palestinians are murdered, their homes and cities destroyed is its own pandemic.
Thanks for all that! Everyone would know the history of Gaza, to understand why Palestinians there are so full of rage. A very useful corrective to all the propaganda from the heavily biased to the Israel side American corporate media. I wonder why that would be?
Israel is a fascist terror state backed by the US war machine and EU support. How can you trap 2.3 million people in Gaza, half of whom are unemployed, in one of the most densely populated spots on the planet for 16 years, reduce the lives of its residents, half of whom are children, to a subsistence level, deprive them of basic medical supplies, food, water and electricity, use attack aircraft, artillery, mechanized units, missiles, naval guns and infantry units to randomly slaughter unarmed civilians and not expect a violent response?
Gaza, the world's largest and longest running concentration camp, is now being turned into an extermination camp before our eyes and the collective west - hypocritical liberal Europe and the US - a cheering on, while more and more openly displaying their latent fascism western governments are banning pro-Palestinian protests, falsely equating them with anti-Semitism and terrorism. ‘Israel’s 9/11’ Is a US issued slogan to rationalize open-ended killing of Palestinian civilians - each and every western liberal supporter of Israel is complicit in genocide.
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden gave a speech completely associating his government with the barbarism of the Israeli state, giving the Netanyahu government a green light to carry out mass murder.
Israel is a nuclear state, armed to the teeth by the US. Its existence is not under threat. It’s the Palestinians, their lands, their lives, that are. Western civilization seems willing to stand by while they are exterminated.
75 years of ethnic cleansing. 15 years of blockade. Confiscation of Palestinian lands. Pogroms on Palestinian towns. Desecration of Palestinian sacred sites. Daily raids into Palestinian homes. Constant humiliation of a entire people. Nothing about today is “unprovoked.”
Just like in Ukraine - Again the lying hypocritical liberal western media spinning the narrative of ‚Unprovoked‘. Israel has spent the past 75 years committing apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people so no this was not an “unprovoked attack.” This was an act of resistance against a brutal occupying force. Here come days and days of western news media slyly reversing the aggressor-defender relationship and reporting as though the violence began with the Hamas offensive, spontaneously out of nowhere.
Israel‘s genocidal campaign to displace a whole people from its land is no different from what Nazi Germany did in the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII.
Anyone who does not take a stand against reactionary Israel is complicit.
Of course, the Hamas fighters are not going to stay up in the northern end. They'll move with the refugees. Israel has done this now five times, with the result each time that Hamas emerges more committed and stronger. What's that definition of insanity? Doing the same failed thing repeatedly in expectation of a different outcome.
How disappointing. The only negative term is "militant settlers".
De-development is a matter of priorities. The priority of Hamas was not development but weapons. They had plenty resources and promises for much more but they made their choice.
It was not only the Hamas. After the Oslo accord which is not even mentioned Arafat entered Gaza smuggling in his car a murderer who was not allowed as per the agreement to enter this place. There was never ever a chance for any development or conciliation.
Wow. First thing I’ve read on this site in years that is truly mediocre (at best). Some interesting information but in the service of drivel. Love the site and will just chalk up this to an off day. Respectfully, you’re out of your depth here.
Good piece overall, but the evidence from the IDF themselves goes against your closing claim that "At this moment of crisis, the IDF would prefer not to have them in the way, when what it wants to concentrate on doing is killing Hamas fighters and destroying their military infrastructure" - 700 children murdered and mostly civilians massacred puts paid to that.
What a strange analysis, failing to mention Hamas’ illegal attack on civilians, including children. It presents Hamas as an economic entity, not a terrorist organization with the stated objective of killing all Jews.
As per Neal Manne’s comment, given the overall excellence of this Substack, I am very surprised and quite disappointed by the sub standard quality of this piece.
Thank you for covering a piece of this story that nobody else seems to.
Interesting that Hamas is here discussed extensively but never, in this telling, attacks Israel. Instead, it seems to be a business organization with some bad luck in the market.
Do you honestly believe the evacuation order is for humanitarian purposes? Even if it was possible to displace 1M in a day out of Gaza, do you think those who took refuge would be allowed to return to Gaza?
Thank you for this detailed account, tragic...
Brilliant article providing the historical facts and bringing clarity. I have been waiting for you to write about Gaza, Mr. Tooze. The truth has been shrouded in ignorance and fear. The comments by readers express rabid polemics, and clearly, a microcosm of the hatred and deflection of the truth that has always galvanized the atrocities against the Palestinian people, not just against Hamas. This comment by Jason Eis is a perfect example of gaslighting that suppresses the plight of the Palestinians, "both the Jews and Palestinian are the victims of European anti-semitism, or perhaps the Arab colonialists of the 7th and 8th centuries, or is it all because of the Romans, etc. In fact, though the article feels decidedly pro-Palestinian, the true basis of its arguments (we respond only to our context) only means that no one is really responsible for anything." In a circular fashion this psychobabble that otherwise sentient beings mouth while Palestinians are murdered, their homes and cities destroyed is its own pandemic.
Thanks for all that! Everyone would know the history of Gaza, to understand why Palestinians there are so full of rage. A very useful corrective to all the propaganda from the heavily biased to the Israel side American corporate media. I wonder why that would be?
Snicker...
Israel is a fascist terror state backed by the US war machine and EU support. How can you trap 2.3 million people in Gaza, half of whom are unemployed, in one of the most densely populated spots on the planet for 16 years, reduce the lives of its residents, half of whom are children, to a subsistence level, deprive them of basic medical supplies, food, water and electricity, use attack aircraft, artillery, mechanized units, missiles, naval guns and infantry units to randomly slaughter unarmed civilians and not expect a violent response?
Gaza, the world's largest and longest running concentration camp, is now being turned into an extermination camp before our eyes and the collective west - hypocritical liberal Europe and the US - a cheering on, while more and more openly displaying their latent fascism western governments are banning pro-Palestinian protests, falsely equating them with anti-Semitism and terrorism. ‘Israel’s 9/11’ Is a US issued slogan to rationalize open-ended killing of Palestinian civilians - each and every western liberal supporter of Israel is complicit in genocide.
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden gave a speech completely associating his government with the barbarism of the Israeli state, giving the Netanyahu government a green light to carry out mass murder.
Israel is a nuclear state, armed to the teeth by the US. Its existence is not under threat. It’s the Palestinians, their lands, their lives, that are. Western civilization seems willing to stand by while they are exterminated.
75 years of ethnic cleansing. 15 years of blockade. Confiscation of Palestinian lands. Pogroms on Palestinian towns. Desecration of Palestinian sacred sites. Daily raids into Palestinian homes. Constant humiliation of a entire people. Nothing about today is “unprovoked.”
Just like in Ukraine - Again the lying hypocritical liberal western media spinning the narrative of ‚Unprovoked‘. Israel has spent the past 75 years committing apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people so no this was not an “unprovoked attack.” This was an act of resistance against a brutal occupying force. Here come days and days of western news media slyly reversing the aggressor-defender relationship and reporting as though the violence began with the Hamas offensive, spontaneously out of nowhere.
Israel‘s genocidal campaign to displace a whole people from its land is no different from what Nazi Germany did in the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII.
Anyone who does not take a stand against reactionary Israel is complicit.
Of course, the Hamas fighters are not going to stay up in the northern end. They'll move with the refugees. Israel has done this now five times, with the result each time that Hamas emerges more committed and stronger. What's that definition of insanity? Doing the same failed thing repeatedly in expectation of a different outcome.
How disappointing. The only negative term is "militant settlers".
De-development is a matter of priorities. The priority of Hamas was not development but weapons. They had plenty resources and promises for much more but they made their choice.
It was not only the Hamas. After the Oslo accord which is not even mentioned Arafat entered Gaza smuggling in his car a murderer who was not allowed as per the agreement to enter this place. There was never ever a chance for any development or conciliation.
Clarifying, thank you.
Wow. First thing I’ve read on this site in years that is truly mediocre (at best). Some interesting information but in the service of drivel. Love the site and will just chalk up this to an off day. Respectfully, you’re out of your depth here.
Have been reading Hannah Arendt. It sounds like the Boers in South Africa. Israel is “Boer” very interesting. Or is it bourgeois capitalist empire?
Brilliant piece... Blame the victims.
Good piece overall, but the evidence from the IDF themselves goes against your closing claim that "At this moment of crisis, the IDF would prefer not to have them in the way, when what it wants to concentrate on doing is killing Hamas fighters and destroying their military infrastructure" - 700 children murdered and mostly civilians massacred puts paid to that.
What a strange analysis, failing to mention Hamas’ illegal attack on civilians, including children. It presents Hamas as an economic entity, not a terrorist organization with the stated objective of killing all Jews.
As per Neal Manne’s comment, given the overall excellence of this Substack, I am very surprised and quite disappointed by the sub standard quality of this piece.