Biblical Mythology Is Not a Land Deed

In debates surrounding Zionism and the State of Israel, it's common to encounter the claim that Jews have a biblical right to the land of Palestine. This assertion, often used to justify the displacement and oppression of Palestinians, relies on ancient mythology, not historical fact. Myth is not a land deed.

Myth Is Not History

The Bible is a theological text, not a historical record. Modern Jewish historians in the 19th century, such as Isaak Markus Jost and Leopold Zunz, did not treat it as a literal account of history. They understood the Old Testament as a reflection of religious beliefs and traditions rather than factual events (Le Monde diplomatique, 2008). It wasn’t until later, with the rise of nationalism, that figures like Heinrich Graetz reinterpreted biblical stories, such as Abraham’s journey, the Exodus, and the kingdom of David and Solomon, as historical truths, forming the foundation of Zionist ideology.

However, archaeological discoveries since the 1980s have systematically dismantled these claims. For example, no evidence supports the story of a Hebrew exodus from Egypt or a sudden conquest of Canaan. At the supposed time of the Exodus, Canaan was still Egyptian territory (Le Monde diplomatique, 2008). Furthermore, excavations have found no trace of the grand united monarchy described in the Bible. Instead, evidence points to two modest kingdoms—Israel and Judah—with Israel being the stronger of the two (Le Monde diplomatique, 2008).

The Myth of Roman Exile

A foundational Zionist myth is that the Jewish diaspora was created through Roman expulsion after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. But historical records and archaeology tell a different story. The Romans did not engage in the practice of exiling entire populations from the eastern Mediterranean. While Jerusalem was destroyed and some were enslaved, the broader population remained on their land (Vridar, 2014).

This is confirmed by the documentary Exile, A Myth Unearthed, which presents archaeological findings from Galilee and Sepphoris that show Jewish communities thriving in Palestine well after the Second Temple’s fall. Historian Israel Yuval states plainly, “The Romans did not force people into exile. This is a biblical image based on the Babylonians and Assyrians, but it was never Roman policy” (Exile, A Myth Unearthed, n.d.).

Even the Bar Kochba revolt of 132–135 CE did not result in mass exile. Instead, Jewish life continued to flourish. Rabbi Judah HaNasi, for instance, compiled the Mishnah in Judea generations after these revolts, hardly the sign of a land emptied of Jews (Vridar, 2014).

Israeli historian Shlomo Sand challenges the exile narrative, arguing that the diaspora grew through conversion and migration rather than forced deportation. He emphasizes that Israel “deliberately forgets its history” by clinging to the myth of exile as a justification for its claims (Le Monde diplomatique, 2008).

Mythology Does Not Justify Ethnic Cleansing

Even if the biblical exile were historical (which it is not), it would still not justify the modern dispossession and displacement of Palestinians. Historical suffering does not give one group the right to oppress another. Nearly every land on Earth could be claimed by someone invoking an ancient wrong, but society moves forward by upholding human rights, not ancient conquest myths.

Moreover, many Palestinians may in fact be descendants of the ancient Judeans, having remained in the region and gradually converting to Christianity and then Islam over centuries. The idea that modern Jews are returning to reclaim a land emptied of their ancestors is both ahistorical and dehumanizing.

Using mythology to justify apartheid, dispossession, and the brutalization of another people is not only morally bankrupt, it’s dangerous. If peace and justice are ever to be realized, it must begin with historical truth and a rejection of violent mythmaking.

1 @saludmentalono @TigayBarry Exile, A Myth Unearthed. (n.d.). Icarus Films.

2icarusfilms.com/if-exl42111111…

The Genocidal Reality: Analyzing Israel's Actions in Gaza Through the Lens of International Law

The term genocide, defined by the United Nations, refers to actions committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group in whole or in part. Israel's actions in Gaza, particularly since the escalation of violence in recent years, have been identified by multiple genocide scholars and human rights organizations as fulfilling these criteria. Genocide includes killings, infliction of serious bodily or mental harm, the deliberate creation of conditions to destroy the group, and efforts to prevent births within the group. This paper explores these acts and demonstrates how Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza constitutes genocide under international law.

Genocidal Acts as Defined by the UN

The UN's 1948 Genocide Convention outlines five acts that define genocide:

Killing members of the group: This includes widespread killing aimed at wiping out a population.
Causing serious bodily or mental harm: This refers to physical violence, but also the infliction of emotional and psychological trauma that destroys a group's sense of identity.
Deliberately inflicting living conditions meant to destroy the group: This includes deprivation of food, medical aid, and resources that lead to the group's physical destruction.
Preventing births: Acts such as forced sterilization or blocking the group from reproducing.
Forcibly transferring children to another group: This refers to the expulsion of the group's children to strip them of their identity.

Israel’s actions in Gaza match these definitions, especially in terms of mass killings, deprivation, and the targeting of civilians, which contribute to the gradual destruction of the Palestinian people. Forensic Architecture’s Cartography of Genocide report documents this systematically, showing how Israel’s policies directly align with these genocidal acts.

Evidence of Genocidal Acts in Gaza

Systematic Killing of Palestinians

One of the most significant markers of genocide is mass killing, particularly when the intent is to destroy an entire group. During the most recent military operations in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed thousands of Palestinians, many of whom were civilians. Forensic Architecture’s report describes how entire neighborhoods were destroyed, and homes were targeted indiscriminately, resulting in countless deaths. During the 2024 escalation, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that thousands of civilians were killed, many of them women and children, which exemplifies the intent to destroy the Palestinian population.

Deprivation of Basic Needs and Intent to Destroy

Another significant aspect of genocide is the deliberate deprivation of resources necessary for survival. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented how Israel has intentionally cut off access to food, water, medical supplies, and electricity in Gaza. These acts are intended not only to cause immediate harm but also to prevent the survival of the Palestinian population. The deprivation of clean water and food has exacerbated the suffering in Gaza, further highlighting Israel’s genocidal policies. These conditions lead to the destruction of the population’s health, morale, and prospects, and can be seen as a calculated effort to weaken and destroy the Palestinian people as a group.

Deliberate Targeting of Palestinian Culture and Identity

Israel’s actions have also been recognized as targeting Palestinian culture and identity, which is another genocidal tactic. Dr. Lee Mordechai’s report emphasizes that Israel's efforts to suppress Palestinian voices and media, particularly those documenting the violence, are part of a broader strategy to erase Palestinian identity. This strategy not only destroys the physical population but also aims to erase the history and culture of the Palestinian people, a core component of genocide. The suppression of Palestinian identity is essential for Israel to maintain its narrative that Palestinians do not have a legitimate right to the land or their own identity.

Recognition by Genocide Scholars

Several genocide scholars and Holocaust experts have recognized Israel's actions in Gaza as fitting the criteria of genocide. Holocaust scholar Amos Goldberg notes that the use of military force against civilians, the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the systematic targeting of non-combatants are all indicators of genocidal intent. In his scholarly work, Goldberg argues that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to a systematic attempt to destroy the Palestinian population, fitting the criteria for genocide (Goldberg, 2024).

Similarly, a comprehensive analysis conducted by the International Human Rights Clinic at Boston University concludes that Israel’s actions, including the aerial bombardment of civilian areas, the use of disproportionate force, and the targeting of hospitals and schools, qualify as acts of genocide. The report emphasizes that these actions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy aimed at exterminating the Palestinian people (University Network for Human Rights, 2024).

Patterns of Intentional Harm

Genocide does not occur in isolated events but follows a systemic pattern over time. Al Haq’s report demonstrates how Israel’s actions in Gaza fit this pattern. The killing of civilians, the bombing of civilian infrastructure, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people have been systematically documented as part of an ongoing process to destroy the Palestinian population. The report by Airwars, which analyzed patterns of harm in Gaza, highlights how Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have disproportionately impacted civilians, confirming the intentionality behind the violence. These patterns are unprecedented in modern warfare, and they indicate that Israel’s actions go beyond military strategy and are geared toward the destruction of Palestinian society (Airwars, 2024).

Israel's actions in Gaza represent a clear example of genocide as defined by international law. The mass killings, destruction of essential resources, and the deliberate targeting of Palestinian culture and identity fulfill the criteria outlined by the United Nations and scholars in the field of genocide studies. The global community must recognize these crimes for what they are and take concrete steps to hold those responsible accountable.

a 🧵 References:

Forensic Architecture. (2024). A Cartography of Genocide. Retrieved from Forensic Architecture
forensic-architecture.org/investigation/…

In administrative detention, a person is held without trial or having committed an offense because they plan to break the law in the future. As a preventive measure, it has no time limit. The detainee is held without legal proceedings based on classified evidence.
A🧵 Since October 2023, Israel has intensified its state of emergency measures, allowing laws to be altered, especially those affecting Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This ongoing emergency has led to widespread attacks on Palestinians.

@MedTechGuru @OlaYa_S UN Report: Israel In Regular Contact With Syrian Rebels Including ISIS


1ibtimes.co.in/un-report-isra… @MedTechGuru @OlaYa_S

2timesofisrael.com/ex-defense-min…

I keep seeing people claim the Nakba happened because the arab armies attacked Israel on the day they declared their independence. Like all hasbara talking points, this is a lie.
The nakba timeline
a 🧵 In November 1947, the UN General Assembly proposed a plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Despite Jews constituting one-third of the population and controlling less than 5.5% of Palestine, the UN plan allocated 55% of the land to them.

@HisNameWasRP @jvgraz @MissRinaIdrus @korraposting @DEvansworth Israel’s War in Gaza is Not a Valid Act of Self-defence in International Law
Israel captured the Palestinian Gaza Strip and West Bank from, respectively, Egypt and Jordan, in the 1967 war it launched against these two states and Syria

1 @HisNameWasRP @jvgraz @MissRinaIdrus @korraposting @DEvansworth Israel’s 1967 war was illegal as a matter of the international law on the use of force, for the sake of argument, assuming the contested matter of Israel’s claim that it feared an attack from its three neighbours, states cannot lawfully use force in self-defence pre-emptively.

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This pinned post will have all threads about Israel and Palestine. Everything from the Israel lobby to the history of the nakba. I will continue to add to them.
Free Palestine. This thread has information about the history of the nakba and demonstrates that the process of the nakba continues to this day.

https://x.com/ccnameisfriday/status/1790510301378666743?t=fKwXKjxpS2uT_FRxA_C8Nw&s=19

Israeli private intelligence companies and spyware have interfered in elections around the world, spied on presidents and kings, interfered in treaty negations and has gotten activists and reporters killed.
A 🧵 It is a story of decade-long friendships with Israeli businessmen and former security officials, generous contracts with Israeli cyber surveillance firms, and business partnerships which enabled human rights abuses at Zerón’s hands.

1reactionary.international/cases/surveill…

@JustLuai Some facts about Israel
Homophobia

In a leaked recording, Bezalel Smotrich said he could take measures against the LBGTQ+ community because his voters 'don't give a damn about the gays'

1thejc.com/news/israel/my… @JustLuai Israeli Rabbi Zvi Thau, who has been accused of multiple sex crimes, describes the LGBTQ community as a ‘crime against humanity,’ calling on readers of his new book to join the fight against ‘a fatal disease’ threatening to destroy Israel

2haaretz.com/israel-news/20…

@EylonALevy Israeli agents infiltrating as Arabs were discovered, arrested and criminally prosecuted in Egypt when their explosives malfunctioned, leading to a crisis in the Israeli government and relations with the US.
40 @EylonALevy The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which mentioned the Lavon incident twice in three pages, expressed caution about investigating such sensitive matters.  “There would undoubtedly (even with care)
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@EylonALevy The Jews leave Arab countries
A 🧵


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https://twitter.com/RedactedRosalia/status/1772115977699770868?t=7vtREnJx6tV_fAwQrlOlVg&s=19

@EylonALevy Yemen
In 1949, the Israeli government was working assiduously with British colonial authorities in Aden and with Yemeni officials to airlift Yemeni Jews to Israel. While the League of Arab States had resolved to ban the emigration of Arab Jews to Israel,
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@gumby4christ I think people need to be aware of the Israeli spyware and private intelligence companies as well.
According to the research group Forensic Architecture, the use of NSO Group’s products has contributed to over 150 physical attacks.
digitalviolence.org/#/platform @gumby4christ Aims’: the software for hire that can control 30,000 fake online profiles
theguardian.com/world/2023/feb…

@IsaiahTalton2 @Judywantschange The nakba a 🧵 @IsaiahTalton2 @Judywantschange Between 1947 and 1949, at least 750,000 Palestinians from a 1.9 million population were made refugees beyond the borders of the state. Zionist forces had taken more than 78 percent of historic Palestine, ethnically cleansed and destroyed about 530 villages and cities,
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@AIPAC @MarkPocan $6.64 Billion Damages Sought over Israeli Government and AIPAC Use of Stolen Classified US Trade Data

New FBI Files Alleging AIPAC Theft of Government Property and Israeli Espionage Released

6businesswire.com/news/home/2011…
prnewswire.com/news-releases/… @AIPAC @MarkPocan AIPAC and its associated think tank, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), were instrumental in lobbying the president for the creation of the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence unit early in 2004.
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