Geopolitics of genocide | Transnational Institute

The genocide in Gaza has sparked an unprecedented wave of global solidarity, with millions taking to the streets, university campus encampments, and activists blocking ports and arms factories. This surge of protest challenges not only Israel’s actions but also the global systems that enable them. However, while this brought visibility to the Palestinian cause, the way Palestine is often framed can obscure the true nature of the struggle. Too often, discussions are limited to Israel’s immediate human rights abuses – killings, arrests, and land theft – without addressing the underlying systems of power that make these abuses possible. Framing the issue through a human rights lens alone depoliticises the Palestinian struggle, reducing it to isolated violations rather than a systematic campaign of settler colonialism backed by Western imperialism. 

In essence, this genocide has been sponsored by the US and the European Union (EU), particularly by some EU member states, giving Israel the green light at every turn to continue its attacks and starvation policies, while diplomatically shielding it and arming its military. Discussions about Israeli politics often focus narrowly on the actions of individual prime ministers, particularly Benjamin Netanyahu, as if they alone shape the state’s trajectory. While these figures are significant, we need to pan back to grasp the deeper, long-term dynamics that underpin Israel’s policies. This requires analysing the structural and historical forces driving its settler-colonial project and its broader role in maintaining Western hegemony.

Compounding this problem is the persistent narrative that attributes Western support for Israel solely to the influence of a ‘pro-Israel lobby’. This is a dangerously simplistic view that misunderstands the deeper geopolitical relationship. The unwavering alliance between the West and Israel is not merely a matter of lobbying or influence; it is a strategic partnership rooted in shared imperial goals. 

Understanding the broader geopolitical map is essential for building effective alliances and crafting a strategy that goes beyond reactive solidarity. It enables us to identify and confront the systems and actors that sustain Israel’s settler-colonial project while avoiding the trap of viewing authoritarian regimes in the region as allies in the struggle for Palestinian liberation. These regimes have their own interests, often rooted in preserving power or securing economic and military benefits, and aligning with them uncritically can undermine the broader goals of justice and liberation. 

Also, such an analysis allows us to target the corporations and industries that profit from and sustain Israel’s colonial violence. Arms manufacturers, IT companies, and multinational corporations (MNCs) play a critical role in enabling Israel’s settler-colonial project, and exposing their complicity is key to disrupting the networks of profit that underpin oppression. By identifying these actors and their connections, we can better strategise and direct interventions that strike at the economic foundations of settler-colonial domination.

Finally, a deeper understanding of the broader picture equips movements for the long haul. It ensures we remain focused and strategic, especially when confronted with initiatives like statehood discussions or diplomatic agreements that leave the situation on the ground unchanged. By maintaining clarity on the realities of occupation and dispossession, we can resist being swayed by superficial progress or symbolic gestures. Instead, we continue to expose the ongoing settler-colonial violence and work towards a genuinely anti-colonial future.