Netanyahu’s Genocidal Govt Just Got Even WORSE!

Right, so how to make a government like that of Benjamin Netanyahu even worse than it already is, with its excuses for continuing its atrocities in Gaza already being made and ridiculed? Well, letting yet another madman, something this government is in no shortage of already, back into government.
The return of Itamar Ben Gvir to the Israeli government and straight back into his post of Security Minister at that, all coinciding with the resumption of Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza, makes for yet another chilling escalation in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Ben Gvir is a far-right extremist and has long been a vocal advocate for the expulsion of Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, supported as he is by the far right settler movement. His reinstatement to the government, alongside Benjamin Netanyahu’s flimsy justifications for ending the ceasefire, underscores the depravity, criminality and moral bankruptcy of Israel’s leadership. And you needn’t just take my word for that of course, take Netanyahu’s.
Right, so that was Benjamin Netanyahu getting his excuses in in a televised statement given to the people of Israel and the world, trying to convince us that he was right and justified in what he was doing, still under the impression that all the propagandising, the mainstream media headlines playing matters down, the hasbara was having an impact despite all of us witnessing this most well documented of all genocides ever, playing out in real time across social media exposing the truth despite his lies.
Hamas is responsible for a lot of things, but given that this conflict did not begin on October 7th 2023, but can be traced at least back to 1967 when Israeli occupation began – and actually even further than that back to 1948 to the Nakba and the fact Hamas didn’t come into existence until 1987, it just doesn’t wash to people who know their onions and aren’t being taken in by all the dishonest headlines. Hamas bears responsibility for October 7th sure and other attacks besides, but Israel had a role in October 7th too, we know this, you won’t allow an investigation into that though an independent one, so why is that if it is really all Hamas?
The question of rape is one where no cases in connection with that crime have arisen in relation to October 7th, other crimes we only have your word for, so lets have an independent investigation then, because as much as you can point to the events of that one night, it is harder and harder for people to accept the following 15 months of genocide in Gaza as a proportional response to that, so every crime you listed there is mirrored by tens of thousands of fatalities at Israeli hands across the Strip mostly of women and children. Hamas refused your demands to change the deal as per US interference. Hamas demanded you keep your word and move to phase 2 of the ceasefire, which would have seen the release of the hostages.
Over the last two weeks where you say you have not initiated any military action, what you did, apart from lie there, because the IDF were attacking still, was to enact a 2 week long siege of starvation of the Gaza Strip and you did that in the hope that Hamas would give in to your abhorrence. You claim this is why you ended the ceasefire, but the truth is we all knew at some point you would, because your government would fall apart unless you did, your hard right coalition partners would desert you and dump you out of power and at the mercy of the world court and domestic court on your charges of corruption, which of course you were due in court for on the very day you ended the ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s rhetoric is particularly insidious because it frames Israel’s aggression as a response to Palestinian violence, ignoring the root causes of the conflict. The blockade of Gaza, another instance of Israeli aggression, now in its 18th year, has in itself created a humanitarian catastrophe, with over 2 million people living in what has been described as an “open-air prison.” What has happened since has only made that situation all the worse. The constant bombardment of Gaza, coupled with the destruction of infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and schools, has left the population in a state of perpetual despair. To claim that Israel’s actions are defensive is to ignore the systemic violence and oppression that define Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The return of Itamar Ben Gvir to the Israeli government though is a grim reminder of the far-right’s growing influence in Israeli politics. Ben Gvir has built his career on inciting violence against Palestinians and advocating for their expulsion from the occupied territories. His party, Jewish Power, or Otzma Yehudit, is a coalition of extremists who openly call for the annexation of the West Bank and the establishment of a Jewish supremacist state. This is literal white supremacy.
Ben Gvir’s reinstatement to the government at this particular moment is certainly not necessary, his loss from government and that of his party didn’t bring the government down, there isn’t enough of them, therefore it is seen instead as somewhat symbolic. It sends a clear message that Israel’s leadership not only condones but actively encourages the genocide in Gaza, it keeps the likes of Bezalel Smotrich happy, Ben Gvir being his mate, and it does reinforce the strength of the government once again, but also has rewarded Ben Gvir even as he left the claoition over a ceasefire, because he has walked straight back into his security minister role.
The depravity of Ben Gvir and his party is further underscored by their history of incitement and violence. Ben Gvir has been photographed brandishing a gun in Palestinian neighbourhoods, has handed guns out to settlers like sweets and has called for the execution of Palestinian hostages – lets not call them prisoners when so many are held with no charge. His rhetoric is not just inflammatory; it is a direct incitement to genocide. By bringing him back into the fold, Netanyahu is signalling that there are no red lines when it comes to the treatment of Palestinians and of course we’ve seen the health and physical condition of those Palestinian hostages that have recently been released to know all about that.
The resumption of Israel’s assault on Gaza has had devastating consequences for the Palestinian population. According to The Cradle, Palestinians in Gaza are “dying every minute” as Israel intensifies its bombardment. The airstrikes have targeted residential buildings, hospitals, and schools, leaving a trail of destruction and despair. The death toll continues to rise, with more than 400 Palestinians killed and thousands more injured in the first day of Israel’s renewed offensive.
The impact of this violence is particularly acute for children, who make up nearly half of Gaza’s population. Gaza has been called a graveyard for children. Many have lost family members, homes, and schools, have been left traumatised and without any hope for the future once again.
And now we hear of a renewed planned ground invasion of Gaza, threatening to escalate the violence even further. A ground invasion would likely result in even higher casualties, mostly civilian despite Netanyahu’s protestations that they don’t target civilians showing so much of what the IDF has been doing in Gaza before and will do again is not so much a military operation, but more just an out and out massacre.
Of course the timing of all of this has to be taken in the broader political context of Israel. Of particular note here is that Benjamin Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption, facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu has used every tool at his disposal to delay proceedings and maintain his grip on power. COVID-19 was a godsend to him in this regard, now the genocide of Gaza, the resumption of which timed for when he was due back in court has been kicked down the road yet again.
Netanyahu’s testimony in his corruption trial has been postponed due to the “fresh Gaza onslaught” and you must have been born yesterday to believe that wasn’t intentional. By escalating the conflict in Gaza, Netanyahu is able to dodge proceedings again, helping him to maintain his power and evade accountability.
This is a man who is willing to sacrifice countless lives to protect his own political career, using the suffering of the Palestinian people as a shield against his legal and political challenges and go on TV and lie to the world with impunity over that. That is not the behaviour of a statesman; it is the behaviour a criminal, of a desperate and corrupt politician way past his time in power.
The return of Itamar Ben Gvir to the Israeli government and the resumption of the genocide in Gaza are reminders of the urgent need for international action and the fact this is not a government that can be negotiated with in any meaningful way, not when peace is completely and utterly off the table to them and Netanyahu most of all, keeping him out of jail as he sees it. As I’ve said again and again we, the international community must not remain silent in the face of such blatant human rights violations and excuse making to provide cover for it. It is essential that we think critically past the headlines of pliant client journalists about the issues at stake and be part of the conversation about how to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
One way to do this is by supporting organisations that advocate for Palestinian rights, such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and Human Rights Watch. These organisations play a crucial role in documenting Israel’s crimes and mobilizing global support for justice and equality. We can also challenge the narratives that justify Israel’s actions in the media and in our communities, and push for policies that prioritise human rights over political expediency. As much as those are words we shouldn’t have to be saying, that’s where we are as a race, and it is inhumane to not call it out.
It must be said though, few people are being fooled by Netanyahu’s political stunt here, even before his broadcast and the return of Ben Gvir. Check out this video recommendation here as your suggested next watch to find out more about that.
I have to make a bit of a big announcement today as I got up this morning to find that the channel has now passed the epic milestone of 100,000 subscribers, so thank you to each and every one of you who have subscribed and tune in regularly to take in a Damo Rant or two and long may it continue! Here’s to the next 100,000 subscribers and I’ll hopefully therefore catch you on the next vid! Cheers folks.