The unfolding genocide committed by Israel in Gaza is being muted by terms which, for decades, did nothing to even alleviate the consequences of settler-colonialism for Palestinians, let alone provide any safety or liberation. Every time that the root cause of the violence is not mentioned by politicians, diplomats or the media, Israel’s impunity increases, as does its presence in Palestine. Palestinians, meanwhile, are deprived of the little space they have left, and their presence is subject to annihilation by Israel. While the UN has used terms such as international law, ceasefire, humanitarian aid, forced displacement, settlement expansion and many others that refer to specific violations committed by Israel, what is missing from the narrative is Israel’s settler-colonial identity and … Continue reading Normalising UN terminology leads to normalising genocide