Israelis Are Demonstrating, but Not Against Genocide

Al-Ahram, Egypt, September 5

The ongoing social unrest sweeping Israeli cities, manifested in loud demonstrations and widespread strikes, reveals a glaring omission: There is a conspicuous absence of voices condemning the acts of genocide committed by the Israeli army against unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and the additional atrocities in the West Bank, including the tragic deaths of thousands of Palestinian children. Furthermore, these demonstrations lack any call to address the root causes of the conflict with the Palestinians by adhering to international resolutions advocating for a two-state solution, which many view as the most viable path to peace. The primary focus of these protests has been the demand for the release of hostages held in Gaza, a movement that began with the families of these hostages following the Hamas attack on October 7. This movement gained momentum as sympathizers joined in, culminating in a significant development this week with the Histadrut, the Federation of Labor Unions in Israel, initiating a comprehensive strike to cripple the Israeli economy in solidarity with the hostages’ families. The Histadrut’s leaders have clearly defined their objective, representing an institution with a long history and a crucial role in the founding of the State of Israel. Their announcement underscores the singular aim behind the strike. The stark contradiction in these disturbances and strikes—highlighting that they are not aimed at curbing Israeli aggression against Palestinians—became evident through statements from some of the hostages’ families. These individuals made it clear to the Israeli government and public that they are not disconnected from the broader Israeli consensus supporting the war in Gaza and the West Bank. In fact, their demands extend beyond the release of their relatives; they advocate for intensified military action against Gaza, with some even calling for the use of a nuclear bomb to annihilate all Palestinians. Thus, the ongoing demonstrations and strikes do not conflict with the actions of the extremist government or the continued crimes perpetrated by extremists outside it. These crimes include killing Palestinians after depriving them of food and water, demolishing their homes, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, electricity stations, water, and sewage networks, and seeking to forcibly displace them from Gaza and the West Bank. Meanwhile, the voices of individual Israelis calling for peace have all but vanished from the public sphere. —Ahmed Abdel-Tawwab (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)