Shock, grief, and pain have swept across Israel since Hamas gunmen emerged from Gaza and killed around 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers on October 7. This has also fueled anger and a desire for revenge, which critics in Israel argue is being expressed through inflammatory language that borders on incitement.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the Israeli military’s plan to eradicate Hamas in Gaza by saying, “We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared, “We’re fighting Nazis.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the ancient enemy of the Israelites, Amalek, interpreted by scholars as a call for extermination.
According to experts who monitor statements, journalists, retired generals, celebrities, and social media influencers have also used inflammatory language. The Israeli group FakeReporter reported that phrases calling for Gaza to be “flattened,” “erased,” or “destroyed” were mentioned about 18,000 times in Hebrew posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) since October 7, compared to only 16 times in the previous month and a half.
Experts argue that the cumulative effect of this language has been to normalize discussions of ideas that were previously considered taboo, such as “erasing” the people of Gaza, ethnic cleansing, and nuclear annihilation of the territory. However, it is important to note that incendiary language is not limited to Israel, as Hamas leaders have also made provocative statements.
Concerns about the spread of extremist rhetoric within Israel have intensified the ongoing political battle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultraright government and civic opposition. Some worry that this rhetoric will desensitize Israelis to the civilian toll in Gaza as the war continues.
The rise in incendiary statements coincides with escalating violence in the West Bank, where clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians have resulted in the deaths of 150 Palestinians, including 44 children, and eight Israelis since October 7.
While some argue that the use of inflammatory language by Israeli leaders is understandable given the trauma inflicted by Hamas attacks, others caution that it can lead to further discrimination and mistreatment of Palestinian citizens in Israel. Additionally, it may desensitize Israelis to the civilian death toll in Gaza and hinder prospects for resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.