Psychological Warfare: Netanyahu’s New Weapon Against Gaza |
For nearly the past two years, the world has openly witnessed Israel committing genocide in Gaza. Images of dead children, destroyed buildings, and displaced families flood our screens, yet the world has failed to take any meaningful action as Israel slowly erases Palestinian identity from the earth in the name of “self-defense.” The United Nations, the very institution built to ensure peace, now enables atrocities through its inaction. Every vetoed resolution is not just a diplomatic move; it is another child buried, another family destroyed, and another identity erased. As if the bombs were not enough, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now begun extinguishing hope among Palestinians and attacking their minds.
During his recent address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, he vowed to “finish the job” in Gaza. Before his speech, he even ordered the Israeli military to broadcast it into Gaza through loudspeakers. This action is a clear indication of Israel’s psychological warfare against Palestinians. Netanyahu wanted to send them a message: he is not done, and Israel will not stop until it achieves its objectives. He seeks to instill a core-shaking fear in Palestinians, provoking them into rash actions. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has launched a ground invasion of Gaza as part of a broader plan of annexation, surrounding Gazans from all sides with no escape.
Palestinians, already facing famine—as confirmed by the WHO in August—are completely cut off from the world. They are starving, and hunger is always accompanied by anger and, eventually, confusion. Netanyahu is targeting their emotional and vulnerable minds. He wants them to believe they are utterly alone and that no one will come to their aid. The world has repeatedly failed to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: every resolution vetoed, every aid delivery blocked, every ceasefire deal broken. These betrayals fuel anger and despair, making it easier for Netanyahu’s administration to manipulate Palestinian actions.
It is important to note that Palestinians have minimal internet access and remain largely isolated. With the U.S. repeatedly demanding hostage releases without offering any credible plan for Gaza, and with Washington’s continuous military support to Israel—while other nations watch silently—Netanyahu’s psychological warfare is designed to convince Gazans that they have been abandoned by the world and should lose hope in humanity.
The real question is: why is Israel doing this? Many may not realize it yet, but Israel is losing ground diplomatically. A growing number of states, including some European powers, are recognizing Palestine. Even Israel’s allies are pressuring it to halt its assault on Gaza. The international community is increasingly speaking out about Israel’s war crimes and expressing support for Palestinians. The U.S., along with several Muslim-majority countries, has called for an end to the war. All of this runs counter to Israel’s interests. As a last desperate attempt, Israel is trying to provoke Hamas into retaliating, thereby justifying a renewed onslaught and paving the way for Gaza’s annexation—without losing the support of its allies.
With this reckless strategy, there is indeed a possibility that Hamas might strike back, just as Israel hopes. If the world again fails to act, no one can predict the scale of the crisis Israel’s provocations may unleash. Now is the time for the world to step up and prove to the oppressed people of Gaza that justice is not selective, and that human rights are universal. It is time for Muslim nations to break their cycle of hollow solidarity statements and take meaningful action. It is time for Western democracies to uphold their professed values and stop supplying Israel with weapons that rain down on children.
The genocide in Gaza is not only about an ethnicity being erased and lives destroyed; it is also about the collapse of the international system and the failure of global peacekeepers. If world leaders continue to watch in silence as Gaza burns, then the blood of the innocents will also stain their hands—for silence during a humanitarian crisis is complicity.
The post Psychological Warfare: Netanyahu’s New Weapon Against Gaza first appeared on The Spine Times.