1/ The illusion of genocide is one of control. Genocide requires intent and planning. It was defined as the most "modern" of international crimes, reflecting sovereign decision making and a systemic mindset. Genocide is perceived as an expression of centralized strength. --->
2/ The Israeli genocide in Gaza, however, seems to expand in markedly different fashion. Israel is literally out of control. The political leadership has split into warring factions. Netanyahu and the religious right are fighting the former generals leading the "center". --->
3/ And while support for the "war" remains broad among Israeli Jews, words are losing their meaning. When Netanyahu and his cohorts talk about "destroying Hamas" they are actually advocating for an Israeli occupation of Gaza and the "removal" of the Gazans. --->
4/ When Galant and Gantz talk about "plans for the day after (the end of the "war")", they are talking about Israel retreating from Gaza, leaving the desolation for others to rebuild, and preserving the right to "raid" Gaza wheneve Israel deems it necessary. --->
5/ In both cases Israel rejects (denies, actually) the very notion of accountability. In both cases Gazans receive no reprieve from Israel's lethal force. Still, the debate itself demonstrates the degree to which Israeli control and authority have deteriorated. --->
6/ This reflects on the military. Over the past several days Israeli forces have made several lethal mistakes in the field, after "returning" the refugee camps of Gaza city. At least 8 Israeli soldiers have been killed by friendly fire. This is not random. --->
7/ Israeli military leadership is losing control over forces in the field. Battalion and brigade commanders do just about whatever the want, from killing aid workers to bombing humanitarian centers and ultimately to firing haphazardly and killing their own men. --->
8/ Israeli soldiers have no "real" military "achievements" in Gaza. They cannot rescue the hostages. They cannot defeat Hamas. The Israeli military has been soundly defeated. Senior IDF command still has tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of soldiers at its disposal.
9/ These soldiers have nothing to do but "raid". Such raids are meaningless against a physically entrenched organization like Hamas. Israel cannot destroy Hamas subterranean infrastructure. Bored soldiers, armed to the teeth, are on a rampage reminiscent of Sherman's march. --->
10/ The longer Israel stays in Gaza, and remember that Netanyahu and his supporters want to stay indefinitely, the greater the chaos and loss of control. Israeli leadership encourages the chaos. Israel can argue before the ICJ that no genocidal orders have been given. --->
11/ That is of no consequence. There is a direct relation between the intensity of the chaos and the intensity of the genocide. The Israeli genocide grows not through control and central planning but through the leveraging of a threatened political axiom- Jewish supremacy. --->
12/ All political players in Israel are stoking fear and breeding hatred. The basic object of hatred is the Palestinians but the sad truth is that their deaths are completey absent from Israeli discourse. Nobody cares. The dehumanization is utter and complete. --->
13/ A society built on dehumanization dehumanizes itself. The warring factions within Israel now view each other as less than human. Israel is dismantling itself. We are all the worst, full of passionate intensity. We are the rough beast, slouching toward Bethlehem.
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