Occupation of Gaza Is A Precursor To Elimination

The Israeli security cabinet has voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza. It’s obvious that this will lead to ever greater massacres and the expulsion and attempted elimination of the population of Gaza.

Some sections of the Israeli military have pointed out the difficulty of engaging in a permanent counter insurgency. But Netanyahu is in power in coalition with far right extremists who have been calling for full occupation.

Israel has continued its genocide with the backing of the West. Germany is only now reconsidering military aid it sends the Apartheid regime. Other Western governments are whispering muted opposition to Israel to placate their own populations.

Shihab Rattansi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Washington DC, said Israel’s move to occupy Gaza has been telegraphed for several days. “Donald Trump has all but greenlit whatever Benjamin Netanyahu wants to do. He said it would be up to the Israelis,” Rattansi said.

Israeli national security analyst Ehud Etzion made it plain: “The United States has given Netanyahu carte blanche to occupy Gaza. This is not simply diplomatic cover, this is active endorsement.”

President Trump told reporters, “So Israel is going to have to make a decision… It’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.”

The UN reports that over 1.2 million Gazans are now at immediate risk of famine while the estimated deaths have reached over 60,000 - while one independent study published in Nature magazine estimated the deaths to be over 80,000.

The real death toll won’t be known until all those buried under rubble are recovered.

Israel operates as an attack dog for imperialism in the Middle East. The British Empire wanted a “loyal little Ulster” in Palestine and when the British Empire declined the USA took over as Israel’s main sponsor.

The Apartheid regime is connected into the structures of imperialism imposed on the wider region. That’s why it would take a revolution of workers and peasants across the entire region to take down Israel and other US sponsored states like Egypt.

Here at home we have to increase mass pressure on the Irish government to pass the occupied territories bill and move from words to deeds. They know the cause of the Palestinian people is dear to most Irish people but they are torn between this public pressure and their loyalty to those who run the EU and USA.

Ultimately, all workers in Ireland can do to finally defeat imperialism and it’s pets, is to bring down our own government. To do this we have to build a left with serious roots in the working class and that means fighting on day to day issues.

If you protest for Palestine on a Saturday you need to be canvassing working class estates on housing Monday to Friday. Otherwise we will never have a lever strong enough to pull down the Irish state, put workers in the driving seat, damage imperialism and make Ireland a beacon of hope for all people.