Day 360 of Israel’s Terror in Gaza: Global Mobilization Against Colonialism and the Fight for Palestinian Freedom
The ongoing war in Gaza has become a symbol of Israel’s aggressive pursuit of territorial expansion, with devastating humanitarian consequences. As of October 2024, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in this brutal conflict, with women and children comprising the majority of the victims. Nearly 40% of those killed were children, and close to half were women. The constant bombardment of densely populated areas has led to a staggering death toll, with 15 civilians dying every hour, highlighting the disproportionate and indiscriminate violence inflicted on Palestinians.
At the heart of this conflict lies Israel’s broader geopolitical agenda, often referred to as the pursuit of a “Greater Israel.” This concept, rooted in Zionist ideology, seeks to expand Israel’s borders far beyond their current limits, encompassing parts of neighboring Arab states. Analysts such as Ilan Pappé and Edward Said have long emphasized Israel’s settler-colonial ambitions. Pappé has referred to Israel’s policies as an “incremental genocide,” wherein Palestinian lives are systematically eradicated under the guise of security measures, while their lands are annexed piece by piece.
Prominent scholars like Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky argue that Israel’s actions are not isolated, but rather part of a broader U.S.-Israeli imperial project designed to maintain dominance over the Middle East. The U.S.’ unwavering military and financial support for Israel has emboldened its expansionist agenda, with over $3.8 billion in annual aid, much of it in military funding. Chomsky highlights this as part of a wider geopolitical strategy aimed at destabilizing the region and securing U.S. influence.
Historically, Israel’s territorial ambitions have been reflected in policies and actions that have pushed its borders outward. The Yinon Plan, a 1982 Israeli strategy document, laid the groundwork for this approach, advocating the fragmentation of neighboring Arab states into smaller, weaker entities that could not pose a threat to Israeli hegemony. This strategy has manifested in various conflicts, from Israel’s invasions of Lebanon and Syria to its continued military presence in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
This expansion is seen as part of a larger effort to weaken and destabilize neighboring Arab states, creating a geopolitical vacuum that Israel can exploit to strengthen its regional dominance. The ongoing war in Gaza fits within this framework, as it not only seeks to subdue Palestinian resistance but also sends a message to other neighboring states about Israel’s willingness to use overwhelming force.
As Israel’s campaign of destruction in Gaza continues unabated, the global response has been one of growing outrage and solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Protests have erupted across major cities worldwide, calling for an end to the violence and urging governments to stop supplying arms to Israel. Countries like South Africa, which has a deep connection to the Palestinian struggle due to its own history of apartheid, have been at the forefront of these calls, with government officials condemning the Israeli occupation.
Historical figures such as Nelson Mandela have long recognized the parallels between the struggles of the Palestinian people and those of oppressed peoples around the world. Mandela famously stated, “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” a sentiment that resonates in the global streets today.
Pro-Palestinian voices such as Ramzy Baroud, a Palestinian author and journalist, have called for a global movement to stand against Israeli apartheid. Edward Said, a Palestinian-American scholar, warned of the cultural and historical erasure of Palestinians as part of Israel’s colonial project. His work, along with that of Ilan Pappé, has helped to expose the settler-colonial nature of Israel’s occupation and its broader regional ambitions.
The ongoing war has escalated beyond a territorial conflict; it is now part of a larger struggle against settler colonialism and imperial domination. The question for the global community is whether it will continue to stand by as Israel enacts its expansionist ambitions, or whether it will rise in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In cities worldwide, activists are organizing to pressure their governments to stop arming Israel and to impose sanctions on the Israeli state. The moral imperative is clear: to halt the systematic oppression of Palestinians and to end Israel’s territorial aggression.
As Norman Finkelstein and other analysts have argued, the time for action is now. Global citizens must mobilize, inform their leaders, and demand that their governments take a stand against Israel’s illegal occupation and aggression. It is through collective action, protest, and political pressure that the world can begin to hold Israel accountable and support the Palestinians in their fight for freedom and self-determination.
The world is watching, and history will judge how nations respond to this crisis. The time for action is now: to end Israel’s aggression, to stop the expansion of the “Greater Israel” project, and to stand with the Palestinian people in their fight for freedom.
Sources:
- Edward Said, Orientalism (1978)
- Norman Finkelstein, The Holocaust Industry (2000)
- Ilan Pappé, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006)
- “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,” Congressional Research Service (2022)
- Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera’s Gaza War Coverage
- BDS Movement, Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement
- “The Yinon Plan,” Global Research, Middle East Analysis
- Middle East Monitor, Gaza War Updates
- Noam Chomsky, Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance (2003)
- News 24, South Africa’s stance on Gaza
- Nelson Mandela’s statements on Palestine, cited from the Mandela Foundation
- Ramzy Baroud, Palestine Chronicle
Source: TRT World and various news sources online
“The homeland is stuck in our teeth. It’s filling our cavities. It rests on our tongues. My God. How we yearn for its olive trees. How it haunts our dreams.”
― Noor Hindi, Dear God. Dear Bones. Dear Yellow.