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Hilal English

Israel’s Strategy of Statehood and

Identity Erasure
 November 2024
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict showcases a tragic narrative of ethnic cleansing,
with Israel's military aggression and relentless settlement expansion threatening
Palestinian existence. While international voices condemn these actions,
meaningful progress toward peace remains elusive.
"It was the struggle between Britain and France for the mastery of the Middle East
that led the two countries to carve up the Ottoman Empire with the Sykes-Picot
agreement, and it was their dissatisfaction over the outcome of this deal that led
the British, fatefully, to proclaim their support for Zionist ambitions in the Balfour
Declaration. And so, the Jews’ right to a country of their own became dangerously
associated with a cynical imperial manoeuvre that was originally designed to
outwit the French.”
―James Barr, A Line in the Sand: The Anglo-French Struggle for the Middle East,
1914-1948
The war on Palestine is not merely a conflict; it represents a systematic effort to
ethnically, nationally, and religiously annihilate an entire people. While the death
toll in Palestine may not yet match that of the Holocaust, human rights
organisations highlight Israel’s systemic policies and potential crimes against
humanity. A 2021 Human Rights Watch report accused Israel of apartheid,
comparing its actions to those of historical examples like South Africa.1
Palestinians endure severe restrictions on movement, land use, and civil rights,
with the situation in Gaza particularly dire. During the 1948 Arab-Israel War, Israel
killed approximately 15,000 Muslims.2 Since the 1948 Nakba3 (catastrophe), over
750,000 Palestinians have been forcibly removed from their homes, with over 5
million refugees4, a number5 that continues to grow.

Since the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe), over 750,000 Palestinians have been
forcibly removed from their homes, with over 5 million refugees , a number that
continues to grow.

Now, in one year, the occupation forces have killed over 42,979 Gazans, including
nearly 16,765 children, while thousands more are buried under rubble. At least
98,464 have been injured. The devastation has no parallel in the contemporary era.
Seventeen of thirty-six hospitals are partially functional. More than half of Gaza’s
homes, 80 percent of commercial facilities, 87 percent of school buildings, 68
percent of cropland, and major road networks have been erased.
The occupied West Bank is witnessing similar atrocities. Every hour, Israel kills 15
civilians, including children and injures 35, while bombs and destruction continue
to obliterate 12 homes on average.6 The speed and scale of violence surpass
historical atrocities, yet the international community remains divided and unable to
halt this aggression.
Another element is Israel’s vision of Greater Israel, rooted in religious Zionism. It is
driven by its interpretation of land promised to the Jewish people, spanning from
the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.7

During the United Nations General Assembly session in September 2023, Israel’s
Prime Minister Netanyahu unveiled a new map of the Middle East, showing the
West Bank and Gaza as part of Israel and negating Palestine and its people.

The expansion of settlements into the West Bank, despite being deemed illegal
under international law, continues to encroach on Palestinian land. More than
600,000 settlers now live in these territories, defying multiple United Nations
resolutions. Israeli ongoing interventions in Lebanon and Syria further underscore
its territorial ambitions.
Much like the Melians, who resisted Athens’ dominance in 431-404 BC, despite
overwhelming odds, Palestinians face a similarly daunting battle for statehood
and identity under Israel’s military and political hegemony. The Palestinian
struggle, steeped in hope and justice, risks ending in complete erasure unless the
regional as well as global community takes decisive action.
During the United Nations General Assembly session in September 2023, Israel’s
Prime Minister Netanyahu unveiled a new map of the Middle East, showing the
West Bank and Gaza as part of Israel and negating Palestine and its people.8 The
aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks appears to fit into Israel’s broader
strategy for expansion. The dynamics of the self-styled ‘Arc of Resistance’ have
been significantly altered in Israel’s favour.
The so-called surprise attacks on Israel actually delivered a devastating blow to
the resistance movement. Also, Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was politically
embattled, appears to have gained a reprieve.
The failure of Israeli intelligence on October 7 has also sparked considerable
debate. Given Israel’s reputation for sophisticated intelligence operations,
especially its history of targeting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah with precision,
the fact that Israel was caught off guard by such a large-scale, coordinated assault
in broad daylight is perplexing.
This has fuelled speculation that the attacks might have been deliberately allowed
or self-induced, potentially to justify future military actions aimed at expanding
Israeli-occupied territories. While there is no concrete evidence to support this
theory, Israel’s deep intelligence penetration into Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran
raises questions about how such an oversight could occur.
Alternatively, this incident may serve as a stark reminder that, despite its success
in intelligence-led warfare, even Israel’s advanced agencies face significant
challenges in detecting and preventing complex, multifaceted assaults.
International reactions to Israel’s actions in Palestine are inconsistent, and
criticism of Israel often leads to accusations of anti-Semitism. This double
standard results in less attention to Palestinian suffering while Israel receives
support, particularly from the United States.
Despite this, the United Nations and International Criminal Court (ICC) have
condemned Israel’s actions, with the ICC opening a 2021 investigation into war
crimes since 2014. The investigation could mark a turning point, much like
international legal efforts that contributed to Namibia’s independence from South
Africa.
Palestinians have brought cases against Israel for settlements and human rights
abuses, hoping to undermine its legitimacy. United Nations resolutions like 2334
and 242 condemn Israeli settlements and advocate a two-state solution, but they
remain unenforced.
The ongoing Israeli occupation and the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian issue have
far-reaching effects. Israel’s expanding settlements increasingly render a two-state
solution complicated, as UN reports9 warn that settlement growth erodes the
territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state.
Moreover, the conflict stokes tensions in the Middle East, particularly between
Israel and Iran,10 and fuels anti-Western sentiment in the Muslim world,
empowering groups that rally around the Palestinian cause.11
In the near future, Israel's strained relationships with Europe and the United
Nations are evident, as governments support Israel while public opinion shifts
against it. Recently, Israel declared the United Nations Secretary-General persona
non grata due to his criticism of Israeli actions.
To reverse the situation and achieve a two-state solution or territorial return for
Palestinians, several diplomatic, political, and military factors must align.
Historically, oppressed peoples have succeeded through diplomacy, alliances,
international legitimacy, and resistance.
If armed resistance stalls, Palestinians can pressure Israel by mobilizing global
support through measures like the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS)
movement, modelled after the anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa.
Likewise, a shift in U.S. foreign policy, driven by rising progressive voices like
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, could increase pressure on Israel.
The European Union (EU), already critical of Israeli settlements, may also play a
larger role.
Past successes, such as the international pressure on South Africa and East
Timor’s independence, show how global activism and diplomacy can lead to
political change. The unified Palestinian leadership, overcoming divisions between
Fatah and Hamas, could strengthen the cause, much like Vietnam and Algeria’s
independence movements, where resistance and diplomacy worked in tandem.
Reinvigorating the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) could also provide a
more inclusive representation of all Palestinian factions.
Legal action through the ICC, UN, and other bodies to hold Israel accountable for
war crimes or illegal settlements can be pursued, similar to international
interventions after the Bosnian War.
A third intifada, whether armed or through mass protests, might also force Israel
back to negotiations, echoing the Irish War of Independence, which combined
guerrilla warfare with political manoeuvring to secure a deal.
Geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, including renewed regional focus from
countries like Iran or Türkiye, could revive the Palestinian issue, especially as
public opinion in Arab nations remains pro-Palestinian despite the Abraham
Accords.
Like Israel’s settlement policy, India’s demographic changes in Kashmir threaten to
make any return to the status quo unlikely without a significant conflict. Both
cases represent clear violations of international law and UN resolutions.
Despite international condemnation, geopolitical interests consistently override
legal and ethical considerations. Resistance movements in both regions persist,
though at great cost, as the occupiers mischaracterize these legitimate struggles
for freedom as terrorism. In both cases, collective global activism and strategic
diplomacy are essential for challenging powerful occupying forces and advancing
their causes on the world stage.
The road to statehood and freedom for Palestinians is fraught with challenges.
Yet, history shows that sustained resistance, strategic patience, alliances, and
international pressure can turn the tide in favour of oppressed peoples. The future
depends on their ability to unify their efforts, garner global support, and persevere
in the face of overwhelming odds.

The author is the Director of Global and Regional Studies at ISSRA, NDU. The
views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the position of NDU.
1. “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution. Human Rights Watch.

April 27, 2021. https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-

and-persecution.

2. “Genocide of Palestinian Began since 1948.” Muslim Mirror. February 8, 2024.

https://muslimmirror.com/genocide-of-palestinian-began-since-1948/.

3. “UN Expert Warns of New Instance of Mass Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire.”

OHCHR. 2023. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/un-expert-warns-new-instance-mass-ethnic-

cleansing-palestinians-calls.

4. “Israel and Palestine: Events of 2023.” Human Rights Watch. January 11, 2024. https://www.hrw.org/world-

report/2024/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine.

5. OCHA. 2023. “Data on Casualties.” United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Occupied

Palestinian Territory. 2023. https://www.ochaopt.org/data/casualties.

6. AJLabs. 2023. “Israel-Hamas War in Maps and Charts: Live Tracker.” Al Jazeera. October 9, 2023.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker.

7. Stein, Adrian. “Greater Israel—from the Euphrates to the Nile.” Times of Israel. 2024.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/greater-israel-from-the-euphrates-to-the-nile/.

8. “Netanyahu Brandishes Map of Israel That Includes West Bank and Gaza at UN Speech.” Times of Israel. 2023.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-brandishes-map-of-israel-that-includes-west-bank-and-

gaza-at-un-speech/.

9. UN Reports: The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories often

details the impacts of Israeli occupation on Palestinian statehood prospects.

10. Reports by the ICG frequently discuss the regional destabilizing effects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,

particularly with regard to Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran.

11. Chatham House has outlined the global security threats posed by the continued occupation, including its role in

fuelling radicalization.
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Dr. Atia Ali Kazmi

The writer is a senior research

& policy analyst at NUST
Global Think Tank Network,
Islamabad.

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