Denial and amnesia: Is the global community ready to welcome Israel back?
Key Takeaways
- The Gaza ceasefire is seen by Israel and Western allies as a chance to move past genocide accusations and repair strained relations.
- The war resulted in over 67,900 Palestinian deaths and massive destruction, with rights groups and the UN concluding the actions amount to genocide.
- Israeli leaders, including Yair Lapid, strongly deny genocide and starvation allegations, dismissing international criticism as propaganda.
- There is a strong internal consensus in Israel to reject external criticism regarding the war's human cost, potentially hindering accountability.
- Some hardline Israeli politicians view the ceasefire as a defeat and advocate for continued military action until Hamas is annihilated.
The recent Gaza ceasefire deal is framed by Israel and its Western allies as a significant opportunity to move past the damaging accusations of genocide leveled against Israel and to restore close diplomatic relations that were weakened by global public anger. Over the course of its war, Israel has caused immense devastation, killing over 67,900 Palestinians, injuring 170,000, and destroying 92 percent of Gaza's residential housing, leading to a declared famine. While rights groups and a UN commission have concluded Israel's actions amount to genocide, leading to massive international protests, Israeli figures like Yair Lapid have vehemently denied these claims, attributing global criticism to propaganda. Former adviser Daniel Levy notes a strong internal consensus in Israel to dismiss outside criticism as unjust, which he argues has been central to maintaining societal consent for the war, with little likelihood of a public reckoning with the human cost. Israeli hardliners view the ceasefire as a 'national defeat,' while others, like Amit Halevi, advocate for the complete annihilation of Hamas and the restoration of Israeli control. Meanwhile, many in the West, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, appear ready to accept the ceasefire and US assurances at face value, with some politicians already pushing to resume arms exports to Israel.
