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The Killing of Gaza: Reports on a Catastrophe
Gideon Levy is one of the most respected critics of Israel's apartheid policies against the Palestinian people. He is the outspoken award-winning journalist who has been writing on the conflict for decades. In The Killing of Gaza, he brings together his on-the-ground perspectives of the events leading up to the 7th October and the ensuing devastation of Gaza. His clear-eyed analysis is a vital aperture into current events but he also brings essential historical and political context to the moment. He is unafraid to speak truth to power, and his work is an urgent rebuttal to the propaganda that is distributed through the mainstream liberal press, throughout the world. Levy's words should be read by anyone who wants to get the heart of this most brutal conflict and see for themselves that silence is no longer possible in the face of such atrocity.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
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About the author
Gideon Levy
12 books87 followersGideon Levy (Hebrew: גדעון לוי) is an Israeli journalist and author. Levy writes opinion pieces and a weekly column for the newspaper Haaretz that often focus on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Levy has won prizes for his articles on human rights in the Israeli-occupied territories. In 2021, he won Israel's top award for journalism, the Sokolov Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 12, 2025
October 10, 2021: "How do we sleep at night with all this? This misery is on our hands. And please don't start with Hamas and the rockets. Gaza is occupied territory. Israel is responsible for its fate. Gaza is Israel's trash can, and Egypt's to a lesser degree. Gaza is the land of refugees who fled or were expelled from the land because of Israel. Israel bears a heavy responsibility for their fate." (p. 100)
October 9, 2023: "After 75 years of abuse, the worst possible scenario awaits it once again. The threats of "flattening Gaza" prove only one thing: We haven't learned a thing. The arrogance is here to stay, even though Israel is paying a high price once again... Gaza, most of whose residents are refugees created by Israel. Gaza, which has never known a single day of freedom." (p. 127)
December 28, 2023: "The evil can no longer be hidden by any propaganda. Even the winning Israeli combo of victimhood, Yiddishkei, chosen people, and Holocaust can no longer blur the picture. The horrifying October 7 events have not been forgotten by anyone, but they cannot justify the spectacles in Gaza. The propagandist who could explain killing 162 infants in one day---a figure reported by social media this week---is yet to be born, not to mention killing some 10,000 children in two months." (p.197)
April 10, 2024: "Set aside all the stories about antisemitism abroad; only some are true. Anyone who sees what Israel is doing in Gaza could be expected to hate and despise it. But never mind the world; look at what has happened to us: We were always indifferent to the Palestinians' suffering, but now we have set new monstrous records for this indifference. " (p.262)
May 23, 2024: "If Hamas committed war crimes---and there seems no argument about this---then its criminals must be brought to justice. And if Israel committed war crimes--- and there seems no argument about this in the world, except in suicidal, self-deceiving Israel---those responsible for them must also be brought to justice. Bundling them does not imply moral symmetry or legal equivalency." (p. 279)
What Israel has done since the tragic day of October 7, 2023 (Israel's 9/11) is nothing short of a genocidal campaign against Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has bombarded sections of Gaza without regard to the fact that most of the inhabitants are women and children. Very few protests or voices of opposition are heard by Israeli soldiers and citizens.
Gideon Levy, a journalist for Haaretz (the longest-running newspaper in Israel), is a lone voice of opposition in Israeli media. He is hated by the government and by many Israeli citizens for having the gall to not only criticize but condemn the actions and policies of the Israeli government.
"The Killing of Gaza: Reports on a Catastrophe", a collection of his articles and opinion pieces starting in 2014 to the first six months of 2024, is an eye-opening documentation of what is truly going on in Gaza, rather than the propaganda that Israeli media wants the world to see.
Sadly, the re-election of trump may result in a setback to any achievements that the current cease-fire may have accrued.
The above quotes basically set the tone for Levy's worldview. The following articles and reports provide some up-to-date data.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5...
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15944....
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1...
October 9, 2023: "After 75 years of abuse, the worst possible scenario awaits it once again. The threats of "flattening Gaza" prove only one thing: We haven't learned a thing. The arrogance is here to stay, even though Israel is paying a high price once again... Gaza, most of whose residents are refugees created by Israel. Gaza, which has never known a single day of freedom." (p. 127)
December 28, 2023: "The evil can no longer be hidden by any propaganda. Even the winning Israeli combo of victimhood, Yiddishkei, chosen people, and Holocaust can no longer blur the picture. The horrifying October 7 events have not been forgotten by anyone, but they cannot justify the spectacles in Gaza. The propagandist who could explain killing 162 infants in one day---a figure reported by social media this week---is yet to be born, not to mention killing some 10,000 children in two months." (p.197)
April 10, 2024: "Set aside all the stories about antisemitism abroad; only some are true. Anyone who sees what Israel is doing in Gaza could be expected to hate and despise it. But never mind the world; look at what has happened to us: We were always indifferent to the Palestinians' suffering, but now we have set new monstrous records for this indifference. " (p.262)
May 23, 2024: "If Hamas committed war crimes---and there seems no argument about this---then its criminals must be brought to justice. And if Israel committed war crimes--- and there seems no argument about this in the world, except in suicidal, self-deceiving Israel---those responsible for them must also be brought to justice. Bundling them does not imply moral symmetry or legal equivalency." (p. 279)
What Israel has done since the tragic day of October 7, 2023 (Israel's 9/11) is nothing short of a genocidal campaign against Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has bombarded sections of Gaza without regard to the fact that most of the inhabitants are women and children. Very few protests or voices of opposition are heard by Israeli soldiers and citizens.
Gideon Levy, a journalist for Haaretz (the longest-running newspaper in Israel), is a lone voice of opposition in Israeli media. He is hated by the government and by many Israeli citizens for having the gall to not only criticize but condemn the actions and policies of the Israeli government.
"The Killing of Gaza: Reports on a Catastrophe", a collection of his articles and opinion pieces starting in 2014 to the first six months of 2024, is an eye-opening documentation of what is truly going on in Gaza, rather than the propaganda that Israeli media wants the world to see.
Sadly, the re-election of trump may result in a setback to any achievements that the current cease-fire may have accrued.
The above quotes basically set the tone for Levy's worldview. The following articles and reports provide some up-to-date data.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5...
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15944....
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1...
July 25, 2024
Spanning a decade of Gideon Levy’s journalistic writings on Gaza, these articles flow with stunning prescience into the current situation. In fact, if it weren’t for the division into Part I, which opens with the July 2014 article ‘What Were We Thinking?’ and closes with the May 2023 article ‘Do You Really Want to Go On Living Like This?’, and Part II which takes us on from October 2023, one may have found it hard to realise the shock which accompanied the attacks.
Abandoning the rather startling initial impression that October 7th presented a break similar to the fall of the Berlin wall, Levy’s first piece following the attacks draws attention to the brutal conditions from which it was borne: “Israel Can’t imprison 2 Million Gazans Without Paying a Cruel Price”. Despite having condemned Hamas for many years, not least for the lack of provision offered to their own people, Levy here addresses himself to fellow Israelis who see “only their own suffering over and over”. It is this plea to a seemingly increasingly less receptive public which makes these articles so poignant. Though there is a censor, Levy reminds us that many have relinquished their objectivity voluntarily, that the supposed gulf between left and right is easily closed when an attack causes the “left” to “wise up”.
So, when touching, for instance, on the genocidal language of Giora Eiland, one of the IDF’s “thinking officers”, Levy not only criticises the initial realisation that epidemics in Gaza benefit Israel but asks why such a proposal was not met with outrage. “Dear friends and former friends:”, the final article of the collection opens, “It’s time to sober up from the sobering up.”
Given this and the unprecedented scale of Gaza’s “punishment”, it is incredible that Levy manages to retain an essential sense of individuality in his subjects. Whether it is the fear expressed in children writing wills in which they urge their parents not to mourn, or in the higher rates of bed wetting, Levy challenges us to see the implications of this genocide on an unbearably human level.
This discomfort restores more than one side’s humanity. As Levy concludes his article on Eiland’s contagion proposal: “International law is for the weak, morality for the philosophizers, humanism for the bleeding hearts. And really, what's wrong with a plague in Gaza? Only one thing: It could infect Israel, too. In fact, it already has.”
Abandoning the rather startling initial impression that October 7th presented a break similar to the fall of the Berlin wall, Levy’s first piece following the attacks draws attention to the brutal conditions from which it was borne: “Israel Can’t imprison 2 Million Gazans Without Paying a Cruel Price”. Despite having condemned Hamas for many years, not least for the lack of provision offered to their own people, Levy here addresses himself to fellow Israelis who see “only their own suffering over and over”. It is this plea to a seemingly increasingly less receptive public which makes these articles so poignant. Though there is a censor, Levy reminds us that many have relinquished their objectivity voluntarily, that the supposed gulf between left and right is easily closed when an attack causes the “left” to “wise up”.
So, when touching, for instance, on the genocidal language of Giora Eiland, one of the IDF’s “thinking officers”, Levy not only criticises the initial realisation that epidemics in Gaza benefit Israel but asks why such a proposal was not met with outrage. “Dear friends and former friends:”, the final article of the collection opens, “It’s time to sober up from the sobering up.”
Given this and the unprecedented scale of Gaza’s “punishment”, it is incredible that Levy manages to retain an essential sense of individuality in his subjects. Whether it is the fear expressed in children writing wills in which they urge their parents not to mourn, or in the higher rates of bed wetting, Levy challenges us to see the implications of this genocide on an unbearably human level.
This discomfort restores more than one side’s humanity. As Levy concludes his article on Eiland’s contagion proposal: “International law is for the weak, morality for the philosophizers, humanism for the bleeding hearts. And really, what's wrong with a plague in Gaza? Only one thing: It could infect Israel, too. In fact, it already has.”
November 19, 2024
It’s hard to claim one is a pro humanitarian but trying to be neutral with illegal occupation and the armed movement that comes as a result of 70-ish years of self defense and people resistance.
I was expecting a more fact-finding investigative journalism like the Middle East Eye or the Slow Factory or Al-Jazeera. Esp. In explaining to layman the failure of Fatah and PA’s governance and why the author didn’t mention that Hamas won the election over Fatah in 2016 and not dig deeper on the 2007 armed conflict between Hamas and Fatah.
The author keeps on telling that Hamas is the one who’s responsible the reckoning and that is a terrorist organization. But he highlighted several double standards statements like “One day people will learn to appreciate the determination and courage of those who managrf to establish such a resistance firce while inside a cage, even if we continue to scream and scream ‘murderous organizations’ (p. 121)”
Thia type of inconsistency honestly questions the independency of the author in seeing the case, whether he sees it as a land conflict or an illegal occupation conflict.
I was expecting a more fact-finding investigative journalism like the Middle East Eye or the Slow Factory or Al-Jazeera. Esp. In explaining to layman the failure of Fatah and PA’s governance and why the author didn’t mention that Hamas won the election over Fatah in 2016 and not dig deeper on the 2007 armed conflict between Hamas and Fatah.
The author keeps on telling that Hamas is the one who’s responsible the reckoning and that is a terrorist organization. But he highlighted several double standards statements like “One day people will learn to appreciate the determination and courage of those who managrf to establish such a resistance firce while inside a cage, even if we continue to scream and scream ‘murderous organizations’ (p. 121)”
Thia type of inconsistency honestly questions the independency of the author in seeing the case, whether he sees it as a land conflict or an illegal occupation conflict.
January 8, 2025
Living in Gaza for Gazans since 2005 has been like being “thrown into a cage for the rest of their lives.” “In a cage there’s nowhere to run.” “They haven’t been free for a single day in their lives. Nor is there any hope they will be.” Zionists can yammer on about Hamas but note “in the West Bank, there’s a more moderate government, and Israel is doing nothing to end the occupation there. “Israel hasn’t stopped punishing Gaza since 1948, not for a moment.” “The arrogance is here to stay.” The two-state solution was killed by 700,000 Jewish settlers shoving themselves into the West Bank and Jerusalem. The only option left is the single state. What? Jews, Christians and Muslims living together in peace and harmony in one place like they did for hundreds of years? Funny how if you suggest that all peoples should live together in Israel democratically today, you will be called a Jew hater and anti-Semitic. Nothing increases perceived anti-Semitism more today, than Israel’s illegal actions and over-the-top entitlement.
October 7th: “Israel prefers to strike Hamas without mercy and with no other purpose than revenge.” “Most of the people who revile and who destroy the Gaza Strip have never been there, certainly not as civilians.” Israeli media since October 7th shows nothing about what is going on in Gaza. It conceals the occupation and whitewashes its crimes; it acts as though such deception is what its readers want to hear. “There is no more effective and tried means to keep alive an occupation so brutal and cruel as dehumanization via the media.” “Israelis are being fed an exclusive diet of stories of soldiers’ heroism and about their fall on the fields of battle.” “There’s almost no coverage of Gaza, except in the pages of Haaretz and on some dissident websites.” Is this courage: “the IDF doesn’t wage wars against armies, and its major target is civilians.” “Israel prefers to shut its ears to the demands of the other side, even when those demands are right and conform to Israel’s own interests in the log run.” “The bitter truth is when Gaza is not firing rockets at Israel, nobody cares about it.” “Only force works.” “When the rockets return to Israel’s skies – and they will return if the blockade isn’t lifted – Israel will again pretend to be surprised, offended and angry.” How dare the occupied use their legal right under international law to resist? “When do we hear in Israel about Gaza? Only when Gaza is shooting.” “Israel does not let Gazan residents visit the West Bank or be united with family members there.”
“Israel is continuing (in 2020) to pursue the policies of 1948 in a different way: a cage instead of expulsion, jail instead of ethnic cleansing, siege instead of dispossession.” “The only way to deal with the threat from Gaza is to give Gaza its freedom.” Israel complains about Gaza tunnels infringing on its sovereignty, which is laughable when the world sees Israel treating “Lebanon’s skies as its own”, freely invading the West Bank, or shelling Gazan fisherman fishing in the sea, or shooting Gazan farmers wanting to reach their fields. Think of the dozens of journalists shot by Israel while wearing vests with PRESS clearly written on them. “97% of Gaza’s water supply is unfit for consumption.” “100,000 cubic meters of sewage a day flows into the Mediterranean.” Listen to this Gazan named Ziada: “We are all cripples in Gaza. You close the sky to us, close the sea to us, close the land. What do you want from us? You are making us hate all Israelis. We don’t want that.” Instead of using Gazan workers, Israel “imports laborers all the way from China. About half a million workers entered Israel from Gaza every month until 2000.” “70% of Gazans rely on humanitarian aid.”
Gaza as Concentration Camp: “Only in Israel do they celebrate the building of a concentration camp.” “Two million people have been imprisoned (in Gaza) continuously for 15 years – there has never been another concentration camp like it.” The only way Palestinians can fight for their future is terror; if they silently grin and bear it, Israel and US/Britian/Germany ignores them. “They have no other way. Israel has taught them this.” “Only through terrorism will they be remembered, only through terrorism will they possibly obtain something. If they put down their weapons, they are doomed.” “Gaza didn’t change on October 7th. It was one of the most miserable places on the planet before October 7th and became more miserable after it.”
Israeli Arrogance: Imagine being so deluded that you honestly believe that only YOUR suffering matters. “The idea that we can do whatever we like, that we’ll never pay the price and be punished for it.” “We will fire at innocent people, take out people’s eyes and smash their faces, confiscate, rob, grab people from their beds, carry out ethnic cleansing …and everything will be alright.” The underground wall around Gaza alone cost $675 million. Just one component of the price of controlling other people (in obvious violation of international law). On October 7th, “a few hundred people proved that it’s impossible to imprison 2 million people forever w/o paying a price.” October 7th “tore away at Israel’s arrogance and complacency.” After all, “Israel hasn’t stopped punishing Gaza since 1948, not for a moment.” “Since the hasty withdrawal from Sinai in 1956, Israel has never acceded to the will of the international community.”
On October 7th the mighty IDF couldn’t even “save a kibbutz that had been conquered for 12 whole hours.” Yep, the mighty Israel on October 7th couldn’t find its own ass with both hands and a flashlight. Every one of Israel’s operations in Gaza have done no one any good “except for the lords of war.” When historically did the Nazis act “with self-control and restraint”? And historically has anyone seen Israel “acting with self-control and restraint”? To today’s “Sabra” such empathy and consideration is “for the weak”. “You can’t abuse people for so long, if you believe they are human.” “Will Israel’s brutality in the war and in its jails do anything to advance its goals? Will Hamas release its hostages faster if Israel abuses the Palestinians it is holding hostage?” Israel wants the world to look away because there is no propagandist who can successfully explain away killing 10,000 children in two months or 162 infants in a day. Israel’s official guests will now be directed to Kibbutz Be’eri, but if they look at Gaza afterward, they may be “labeled antisemitic.” “Not telling its sequel is a despicable act.” “The Israeli attack that fully satisfies its lust has not yet been born. You will never hear the right say: ‘Enough. We killed and destroyed enough’.”
Israel won’t be able to defeat Hamas even with it being so lopsided a conflict. An over-equipped army can’t handle a few men with primitive weapons - who knew the obvious lesson from Vietnam is STILL lost on arrogant military types? Since Israel’s genocide began, support for Hamas has only gotten stronger. Why is Israel rushing to become a pariah state? “The longer the war continues, the greater the damage to Israel.” “What does Israel stand to gain from this war? What exactly can it hope for?” If you aren’t going to defeat Hamas, “it is a war w/o purpose of benefit” – unless the purpose is completing flat-out genocide while the US, Britian, and Germany continue to fondle Israel’s ball sack. “The children of the summer of 1995 are now Hamas fighters. What other possibilities did they have in life? They were born into an occupation and grew up under the blockade, with no chance of anything.” To compensate for all the negative publicity, Noa Tishby is now seen wearing two Stars of David, a Chai necklace AND a from-the-river-to-the-sea map, all in gold. What, no gold Genocide R Us grill?
Zionist Friends: When your Zionist friends blather on only about the hostages (ignoring that their idol Netanyahu is doing NOTHING to safely get them back), remind them that “the residents of the Gaza Strip are also hostages.” Perhaps if all Palestinians looked like Bella Hadid or were dead ringers for ex-IDF Gal Gadot, maybe Zionists might take the 30 seconds needed to empathetically understand. Imagine being so blind you only see 136 hostages and can’t see 2.3 million people also trapped and held hostage in Gaza, simply because you don’t think THEY too were personally chosen by your God who you think is apparently fine with genocide of innocent civilians. The Zionist argument is that “Hamas alone is to blame for the conditions in Gaza” – that’s like saying only those who resisted Nazi-occupied Poland or occupied Vichy France were to blame, and not the occupying Nazis.
Israeli prisons: Abu Halil “was unable to change his clothes” for 192 days. His cell was meant to hold 5 inmates but instead held 20 (p. 270). A metal detector “was also used to deliver blows to their testicles.” The walls were “covered in inmate’s blood.” When he was there guards demanded they kiss an Israeli flag and shout “Am Yisrael chai” (The people of Israel live) and they had to curse the prophet Mohammed, and calls to prayer weren’t allowed. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about Abu Halil, after this book was written he was beaten to death by Israeli forces (the most moral army in the world) in Hebron (see 7/10/24 article in aa.com.tr).
This was another great book by Gideon. I’m super glad I read it. Kudos to Gideon. Also, you should read his great, “The Punishment of Gaza” book which I’ve also reviewed on Goodreads.
October 7th: “Israel prefers to strike Hamas without mercy and with no other purpose than revenge.” “Most of the people who revile and who destroy the Gaza Strip have never been there, certainly not as civilians.” Israeli media since October 7th shows nothing about what is going on in Gaza. It conceals the occupation and whitewashes its crimes; it acts as though such deception is what its readers want to hear. “There is no more effective and tried means to keep alive an occupation so brutal and cruel as dehumanization via the media.” “Israelis are being fed an exclusive diet of stories of soldiers’ heroism and about their fall on the fields of battle.” “There’s almost no coverage of Gaza, except in the pages of Haaretz and on some dissident websites.” Is this courage: “the IDF doesn’t wage wars against armies, and its major target is civilians.” “Israel prefers to shut its ears to the demands of the other side, even when those demands are right and conform to Israel’s own interests in the log run.” “The bitter truth is when Gaza is not firing rockets at Israel, nobody cares about it.” “Only force works.” “When the rockets return to Israel’s skies – and they will return if the blockade isn’t lifted – Israel will again pretend to be surprised, offended and angry.” How dare the occupied use their legal right under international law to resist? “When do we hear in Israel about Gaza? Only when Gaza is shooting.” “Israel does not let Gazan residents visit the West Bank or be united with family members there.”
“Israel is continuing (in 2020) to pursue the policies of 1948 in a different way: a cage instead of expulsion, jail instead of ethnic cleansing, siege instead of dispossession.” “The only way to deal with the threat from Gaza is to give Gaza its freedom.” Israel complains about Gaza tunnels infringing on its sovereignty, which is laughable when the world sees Israel treating “Lebanon’s skies as its own”, freely invading the West Bank, or shelling Gazan fisherman fishing in the sea, or shooting Gazan farmers wanting to reach their fields. Think of the dozens of journalists shot by Israel while wearing vests with PRESS clearly written on them. “97% of Gaza’s water supply is unfit for consumption.” “100,000 cubic meters of sewage a day flows into the Mediterranean.” Listen to this Gazan named Ziada: “We are all cripples in Gaza. You close the sky to us, close the sea to us, close the land. What do you want from us? You are making us hate all Israelis. We don’t want that.” Instead of using Gazan workers, Israel “imports laborers all the way from China. About half a million workers entered Israel from Gaza every month until 2000.” “70% of Gazans rely on humanitarian aid.”
Gaza as Concentration Camp: “Only in Israel do they celebrate the building of a concentration camp.” “Two million people have been imprisoned (in Gaza) continuously for 15 years – there has never been another concentration camp like it.” The only way Palestinians can fight for their future is terror; if they silently grin and bear it, Israel and US/Britian/Germany ignores them. “They have no other way. Israel has taught them this.” “Only through terrorism will they be remembered, only through terrorism will they possibly obtain something. If they put down their weapons, they are doomed.” “Gaza didn’t change on October 7th. It was one of the most miserable places on the planet before October 7th and became more miserable after it.”
Israeli Arrogance: Imagine being so deluded that you honestly believe that only YOUR suffering matters. “The idea that we can do whatever we like, that we’ll never pay the price and be punished for it.” “We will fire at innocent people, take out people’s eyes and smash their faces, confiscate, rob, grab people from their beds, carry out ethnic cleansing …and everything will be alright.” The underground wall around Gaza alone cost $675 million. Just one component of the price of controlling other people (in obvious violation of international law). On October 7th, “a few hundred people proved that it’s impossible to imprison 2 million people forever w/o paying a price.” October 7th “tore away at Israel’s arrogance and complacency.” After all, “Israel hasn’t stopped punishing Gaza since 1948, not for a moment.” “Since the hasty withdrawal from Sinai in 1956, Israel has never acceded to the will of the international community.”
On October 7th the mighty IDF couldn’t even “save a kibbutz that had been conquered for 12 whole hours.” Yep, the mighty Israel on October 7th couldn’t find its own ass with both hands and a flashlight. Every one of Israel’s operations in Gaza have done no one any good “except for the lords of war.” When historically did the Nazis act “with self-control and restraint”? And historically has anyone seen Israel “acting with self-control and restraint”? To today’s “Sabra” such empathy and consideration is “for the weak”. “You can’t abuse people for so long, if you believe they are human.” “Will Israel’s brutality in the war and in its jails do anything to advance its goals? Will Hamas release its hostages faster if Israel abuses the Palestinians it is holding hostage?” Israel wants the world to look away because there is no propagandist who can successfully explain away killing 10,000 children in two months or 162 infants in a day. Israel’s official guests will now be directed to Kibbutz Be’eri, but if they look at Gaza afterward, they may be “labeled antisemitic.” “Not telling its sequel is a despicable act.” “The Israeli attack that fully satisfies its lust has not yet been born. You will never hear the right say: ‘Enough. We killed and destroyed enough’.”
Israel won’t be able to defeat Hamas even with it being so lopsided a conflict. An over-equipped army can’t handle a few men with primitive weapons - who knew the obvious lesson from Vietnam is STILL lost on arrogant military types? Since Israel’s genocide began, support for Hamas has only gotten stronger. Why is Israel rushing to become a pariah state? “The longer the war continues, the greater the damage to Israel.” “What does Israel stand to gain from this war? What exactly can it hope for?” If you aren’t going to defeat Hamas, “it is a war w/o purpose of benefit” – unless the purpose is completing flat-out genocide while the US, Britian, and Germany continue to fondle Israel’s ball sack. “The children of the summer of 1995 are now Hamas fighters. What other possibilities did they have in life? They were born into an occupation and grew up under the blockade, with no chance of anything.” To compensate for all the negative publicity, Noa Tishby is now seen wearing two Stars of David, a Chai necklace AND a from-the-river-to-the-sea map, all in gold. What, no gold Genocide R Us grill?
Zionist Friends: When your Zionist friends blather on only about the hostages (ignoring that their idol Netanyahu is doing NOTHING to safely get them back), remind them that “the residents of the Gaza Strip are also hostages.” Perhaps if all Palestinians looked like Bella Hadid or were dead ringers for ex-IDF Gal Gadot, maybe Zionists might take the 30 seconds needed to empathetically understand. Imagine being so blind you only see 136 hostages and can’t see 2.3 million people also trapped and held hostage in Gaza, simply because you don’t think THEY too were personally chosen by your God who you think is apparently fine with genocide of innocent civilians. The Zionist argument is that “Hamas alone is to blame for the conditions in Gaza” – that’s like saying only those who resisted Nazi-occupied Poland or occupied Vichy France were to blame, and not the occupying Nazis.
Israeli prisons: Abu Halil “was unable to change his clothes” for 192 days. His cell was meant to hold 5 inmates but instead held 20 (p. 270). A metal detector “was also used to deliver blows to their testicles.” The walls were “covered in inmate’s blood.” When he was there guards demanded they kiss an Israeli flag and shout “Am Yisrael chai” (The people of Israel live) and they had to curse the prophet Mohammed, and calls to prayer weren’t allowed. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about Abu Halil, after this book was written he was beaten to death by Israeli forces (the most moral army in the world) in Hebron (see 7/10/24 article in aa.com.tr).
This was another great book by Gideon. I’m super glad I read it. Kudos to Gideon. Also, you should read his great, “The Punishment of Gaza” book which I’ve also reviewed on Goodreads.
October 27, 2025
If I had read this book before I read Perfect Victims by Mohammed al-Kurd (which I highly recommend), maybe it would have got 3 stars. But after reading that and how Israelis, while they seem left leaning and have sympathy for the Palestinians, in many cases it only goes so far, this book could only get 2. Most of this book is a condemnation of Israel and what it has done and is doing to Palestine. But there are a few instances where the author seems either to not know what he is talking about, does not see the double standard or makes silly and outrageous comparisons.
We have to begin with the introduction. Levy, knowing full well the state of siege and suffering inflicted on Gaza, decides to condemn Hamas for starting this war (they didn't) because they didn't make "provisions to protect the civilian population, Hamas abandoned the people of Gaza, leaving them without bomb shelters, without a decent material infrastructure and without appropriate stores of food." They should have "gone to the trouble of building hospitals and defenses for its people in advance." Jeez I wonder why they didn't do that? Could it be because they have been under siege for 17 years, they have to smuggle in their entire arsenal and building supplies into an enclave that's the size of a postage stamp? What world does Levy live in? Even if it were possible to build bomb shelters for Gaza's 2.3 million people (which it most definitely is not), what are the guarantees that it will hold up under Israeli bombardment? Or that they won't suffocate when a ventilation system is damaged? Levy mentions this multiple times in his book, and it defies all logic. This while he says repeatedly throughout the book that the Palestinians have no choice but to resist with arms because that is the only way they get any concessions or free any prisoners. He states, "one thing is certain: if they put down their weapons, they are doomed." But also, don't fight back because it's irresponsible?
Later on, Levy talks about what I assume is their Remembrance Day and says he will remember the solider Gideon Bachrach who will killed at Tantura in 1948. He doesn't mention the massacre of Palestinians that happened there but if he wants to remember his special soldiers whatever. Then he says that we should also remember Palestinians but goes on to mention innocent, non-combatants that were killed by Israel. This demotes the resistance to foreign invasion and occupation to an invisible status, outside of polite society. If you are going to remember soldiers and are being "impartial" then remember soldiers on both sides.
Possibly the stupidest part of the book comes in the chapters soon after October 7th, where he states of Hamas vehicles "the pickup trucks resembled those we associate with Islamic State vehicles." Oh no! Hamas and ISIS go to the same car dealership! It's not because Toyota pickup trucks are reliable vehicles that everyone uses in the Middle East (I am not sponsored by Toyota). If they have the same cars, they must have the same ideology! Then he compares the scenes after October 7th to Sarajevo under siege by the Serbian army, which is such a twisting of history I don't know what to say. If it looked like that, it's probably because the Israeli army issued the Hannibal directive and bombed all those communities to bits. You can tell from the footage that the wreckage in many of those towns are not from RPGs and AK 47s but from tanks, artillery, jets and helicopters. Levy also doesn't mention the Hannibal directive once in the whole book which is interesting on its own.
There are some good parts to the book, and I won't deny that. I wouldn't even say don't bother reading it. But just be aware of these ridiculous claims and double standards. We shouldn't constantly be praising Israelis for having a shred of humanity and seeing Palestinians as human beings, that should be the bare minimum. Just like with white people here in Canada, settlers need to be real allies that are with the colonized 100% not just say some nice words and expect praise from the colonized community. Speaking of praise, it should have been a clue when I saw a lack of praise of the book from any Palestinian. If I wrote a book about Palestine and I wasn't able to get praise from any Palestinian author or scholar, I would seriously reassess by writing.
We have to begin with the introduction. Levy, knowing full well the state of siege and suffering inflicted on Gaza, decides to condemn Hamas for starting this war (they didn't) because they didn't make "provisions to protect the civilian population, Hamas abandoned the people of Gaza, leaving them without bomb shelters, without a decent material infrastructure and without appropriate stores of food." They should have "gone to the trouble of building hospitals and defenses for its people in advance." Jeez I wonder why they didn't do that? Could it be because they have been under siege for 17 years, they have to smuggle in their entire arsenal and building supplies into an enclave that's the size of a postage stamp? What world does Levy live in? Even if it were possible to build bomb shelters for Gaza's 2.3 million people (which it most definitely is not), what are the guarantees that it will hold up under Israeli bombardment? Or that they won't suffocate when a ventilation system is damaged? Levy mentions this multiple times in his book, and it defies all logic. This while he says repeatedly throughout the book that the Palestinians have no choice but to resist with arms because that is the only way they get any concessions or free any prisoners. He states, "one thing is certain: if they put down their weapons, they are doomed." But also, don't fight back because it's irresponsible?
Later on, Levy talks about what I assume is their Remembrance Day and says he will remember the solider Gideon Bachrach who will killed at Tantura in 1948. He doesn't mention the massacre of Palestinians that happened there but if he wants to remember his special soldiers whatever. Then he says that we should also remember Palestinians but goes on to mention innocent, non-combatants that were killed by Israel. This demotes the resistance to foreign invasion and occupation to an invisible status, outside of polite society. If you are going to remember soldiers and are being "impartial" then remember soldiers on both sides.
Possibly the stupidest part of the book comes in the chapters soon after October 7th, where he states of Hamas vehicles "the pickup trucks resembled those we associate with Islamic State vehicles." Oh no! Hamas and ISIS go to the same car dealership! It's not because Toyota pickup trucks are reliable vehicles that everyone uses in the Middle East (I am not sponsored by Toyota). If they have the same cars, they must have the same ideology! Then he compares the scenes after October 7th to Sarajevo under siege by the Serbian army, which is such a twisting of history I don't know what to say. If it looked like that, it's probably because the Israeli army issued the Hannibal directive and bombed all those communities to bits. You can tell from the footage that the wreckage in many of those towns are not from RPGs and AK 47s but from tanks, artillery, jets and helicopters. Levy also doesn't mention the Hannibal directive once in the whole book which is interesting on its own.
There are some good parts to the book, and I won't deny that. I wouldn't even say don't bother reading it. But just be aware of these ridiculous claims and double standards. We shouldn't constantly be praising Israelis for having a shred of humanity and seeing Palestinians as human beings, that should be the bare minimum. Just like with white people here in Canada, settlers need to be real allies that are with the colonized 100% not just say some nice words and expect praise from the colonized community. Speaking of praise, it should have been a clue when I saw a lack of praise of the book from any Palestinian. If I wrote a book about Palestine and I wasn't able to get praise from any Palestinian author or scholar, I would seriously reassess by writing.
October 15, 2024
It says a lot about our world that the first thing I did before writing this review was google Mr. Levy to see if he was, in fact, still alive. Props also to Verso for publishing this, because if nothing else it helps to have a primary source as Palestine is systemically destroyed. Collects reporting leading up to 10/23, and up to about May 2024 because of publishing deadlines. There is probably more, but if nothing else you hope that someone else besides you is reading this because holy shit.
October 21, 2025
A very difficult read. The author told the human stories behind some of the killings in Gaza. Not for the faint hearted.
May 14, 2025
While the political and war aspects were very interesting, the human stories were what really made this book. It’s insane how these inhumane, unthinkable crimes against humanity are still being enacted after all these years. Definitely a good read for anyone who wants to learn more about this war beyond just the historical facts.
December 28, 2025
It was hard to decide what to rate this book. I did learn a lot of details of what’s happening on the ground in Palestine, but the way the author continuously tried to stay neutral and equate Hamas with the IDF and other Israeli forces was frustrating. You can tell the author cares about the fate of Palestinians, but it was often in the context of Israel’s standing in the world and how others see them. By not acknowledging the occupation or settler colonialism that has been imposed on Palestine for almost 60 years, it made some of his assertions and claims hard to accept or believe. I would still say read this book to further understand what’s happening in Palestine, but for sure prioritize things written by Palestinians themselves.
December 9, 2025
I was so impressed with Levy’s first book that I immediately started reading this one after finishing it. This book was published much more recently and so really delves into the newest conflict and all of its terror on both sides. I truly enjoy Levy’s thought-provoking articles and how he is unafraid to speak the truth about both side’s wrongdoings. I appreciate how he gives voice to the voiceless and allows the world to hear their cries in this crisis. As I continued reading into the 2023 and 2024 sections of the text, the word that continued to resonate after each article was “helpless,” and it wasn’t just Gaza giving me this feeling. The West Bank continues to suffer as well. No peace will ever come from treating people in these ways. It will only sow more discontent and violence. The final sections of the book demonstrated Levy’s dedication to the truth and fellow human beings. I do sincerely hope that a logical and acceptable resolution will someday be reached, but I know it will take much empathy and cooperation from all involved.
December 12, 2024
Gideon Levy is a Jew and an Israeli who stands against the government of Israel in their massive killing in Gaza. He is a man who has had extended friendships with many Arabs and Palestinians and have a great deal of concern for their pain, which he sees as being only appropriate. He is also a good example of the fact that being anti-Israeli government is NOT anti-Semetic. It is, in fact, being a human being.
He is unstunted in his assertion that Israel has lost any conscious it ever had. All that concern them now is their Jewish identity and the belief that whatever they do, however horrific is ok because they have been so mistreated. He asserts that whatever pain has been inflicted, they have returned in full measure and have lost their way. In refusing to truly hear and accept the Hague and the courts that have ruled them guilty of genocede, they have chosen to be a rouge country that is selfishly choosing to kill hundred or thousands of innocent people in Gaza because of some 1200 that were injured or killed during the Oct 7th attack.
He agrees that Hamas committed war crimes, but so, he insists has Israel. And one of the several war crimes committed by Hama was in not working to make Gazan life safer, and letting the locals take the blunt of the savagery as they have. Netanyanhu, on the hand, is simply a war criminal who deserves the arrest the Hague is directing his way. He feels and says, without hesitation that the current Israeli government is without any moral or humane underpinning and must be replaced or the country will be in disgrace for years.
So, when Jews, even those living there feel that way, it is impossible to say with the certainity that some do that all Westerners who are angry about the war that Israel is waging are simply anti-semetic. 1200 people is the highest estimate that has been revealed about Oct 7th, and in return Israel has condemned all 2.3 million people in Gaza to death or extreme poverty including starvation. To many, like Mr. Levy that "punishment" is misplaced and beyond any measure of fair or humane.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know and understand what true opposition within Israel thinks about this horrible war.
He is unstunted in his assertion that Israel has lost any conscious it ever had. All that concern them now is their Jewish identity and the belief that whatever they do, however horrific is ok because they have been so mistreated. He asserts that whatever pain has been inflicted, they have returned in full measure and have lost their way. In refusing to truly hear and accept the Hague and the courts that have ruled them guilty of genocede, they have chosen to be a rouge country that is selfishly choosing to kill hundred or thousands of innocent people in Gaza because of some 1200 that were injured or killed during the Oct 7th attack.
He agrees that Hamas committed war crimes, but so, he insists has Israel. And one of the several war crimes committed by Hama was in not working to make Gazan life safer, and letting the locals take the blunt of the savagery as they have. Netanyanhu, on the hand, is simply a war criminal who deserves the arrest the Hague is directing his way. He feels and says, without hesitation that the current Israeli government is without any moral or humane underpinning and must be replaced or the country will be in disgrace for years.
So, when Jews, even those living there feel that way, it is impossible to say with the certainity that some do that all Westerners who are angry about the war that Israel is waging are simply anti-semetic. 1200 people is the highest estimate that has been revealed about Oct 7th, and in return Israel has condemned all 2.3 million people in Gaza to death or extreme poverty including starvation. To many, like Mr. Levy that "punishment" is misplaced and beyond any measure of fair or humane.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know and understand what true opposition within Israel thinks about this horrible war.
January 4, 2025
يتناول الكتاب كارثة غزة من خلال سلسلة من المقالات والتقارير التي كتبها الصحفي الإسرائيلي جدعون ليفي على مدار سنوات، وينشرها في صحيفة هآرتس. يركز العمل على توثيق المعاناة الإنسانية الناتجة عن الحروب والحصار على القطاع، مع تحليل نقدي لسياسات الاحتلال ��لإسرائيلي وآثارها على الفلسطينيين. يتميز الكتاب بجرأته في انتقاد الرواية الرسمية الإسرائيلية، ما يجعله عملًا مثيرًا للجدل ومؤلمًا في آنٍ واحد.
ينقسم الكتاب إلى مقالات مرتبة حسب السنوات من 2014 وحتى 2024، تقدم كل منها مشهدًا مختلفًا من المأساة المستمرة.
جزء أول: يغطي حرب غزة 2014 وما تبعها من انتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان. يناقش ليفي "خرائط الألم" والسياسات العسكرية الإسرائيلية التي تركز على استهداف المدنيين.
جزء ثانٍ: يتناول آثار الاحتلال من الناحية الإنسانية، مع التركيز على قصص شخصية مثل الأطفال الذين فقدوا حياتهم والناجين من القصف.
جزء ثالث: يتناول اللامبالاة العالمية وتواطؤ المجتمع الدولي مع الاحتلال، ويطرح تساؤلات أخلاقية حول المستقبل السياسي للمنطقة.
الكتاب هو تفاصيل مروعة عن الجرائم التي ارتكبها الإسرائيليون في غزة، مستندًا إلى شهادات مباشرة من الضحايا والناجين، في حادثة وثقها ليفي عام 2014، كان أربعة أطفال يلعبون كرة القدم على شاطئ غزة. فجأة، استهدفتهم قذيفة أطلقتها البحرية الإسرائيلية، وحولتهم إلى أشلاء أمام أعين المارة.
يقول شاهد عيان: "كانوا يضحكون ويلعبون مثل أي أطفال آخرين. لم يكن هناك أي شيء مريب حولهم. رأيت القذيفة الأولى تسقط بينهم، ثم الثانية. لم أفهم لماذا قد يستهدفون أطفالًا يلعبون على الشاطئ".
إذا كنت تعتقد أن حال غزة قبل طوفان الأقصى كان ورديًا، فأنت لا تعرف أي شيء عن الحصار حول غزة، الذي يحرم المرضى من العلاج. يروي ليفي قصة الطفلة إسراء، التي كانت تعاني من سرطان الدم، ولم تتمكن من مغادرة غزة لتلقي العلاج بسبب القيود الإسرائيلية.
يقول والدها: "كنت أرى المرض يقتلها يومًا بعد يوم. عندما وافقوا أخيرًا على خروجنا، كان الأوان قد فات. ماتت ابنتي بين يدي، وأنا أعجز عن فعل أي شيء لإنقاذها".
من خلال هذه القصص، يظهر الكتاب أن المعاناة في غزة ليست فقط نتيجة الحرب، بل هي نتيجة نظام كامل من الحصار والاحتلال والتمييز. الشهادات الحية التي ينقلها ليفي تعكس الألم المستمر لشعب محاصر، يواجه الموت بصمت.
يوثق حرب 2014 على غزة، والتي أطلق عليها الإسرائيليون اسم "الجرف الصامد". يركز على الهجمات التي استهدفت المدنيين، بما في ذلك قصف المنازل والمدارس والمستشفيات. الكتاب يصف الاحتلال الإسرائيلي بأنه نظام فصل عنصري يعزز الهيمنة العرقية ويستمر في انتهاك حقوق الإنسان. يصف ليفي استهداف المدنيين في غزة بأنه جريمة حرب، مشيرًا إلى أن الجيش يتبنى سياسة "الموت للعرب" كجزء من استراتيجيته. ومن هنا يقول "غزة ليست مجرد مكان جغرافي، بل هي رمز للمعاناة الإنسانية ولعجز العالم عن تحقيق العدالة".
يوجّه جدعون ليفي انتقادات لاذعة للإعلام الإسرائيلي، الذي يصفه بأنه أحد العوامل الرئيسة في تبرير الاحتلال وقمع الفلسطينيين. يشير ليفي إلى أن الإعلام الإسرائيلي لا يقوم بدوره الأساسي كسلطة رابعة، بل يعمل كذراع دعائي للدولة والجيش. فهو يتخلى عن الموضوعية ويكرّس جهوده لتعزيز الرواية الرسمية. وكما يقول "الإعلام الإسرائيلي ارتدى الزي العسكري، ووقف في طابور واحد مع الجيش والحكومة، مُروّجًا للحرب بدلًا من نقدها".
يتهم ليفي الإعلام الإسرائيلي بالتعتيم المتعمد على الجرائم والانتهاكات ضد الفلسطينيين. ويشير إلى أن الجمهور الإسرائيلي يعرف أقل عن غزة مقارنة بالجمهور الدولي. كما يُصور الإعلام الفلسطينيين دائمًا كإرهابيين أو تهديدات أمنية، مما يرسّخ صورة نمطية تجعل من السهل تبرير العنف ضدهم. من جهة أخرى يلعب الإعلام دورًا مركزيًا في نزع الإنسانية عن الفلسطينيين من خلال سرديات مضللة، مما يجعل الجمهور غير مبالٍ بالمأساة في غزة.
ليفي لم يدافع عن حماس بشكل مباشر، لكنه دعا إلى فهم أعمق لدوافعها وسياستها في ظل الاحتلال وإن نقدها لعدم توفير ملاجيء للفلسطينيين. أشار إلى أن العنف الذي تمارسه حماس هو رد فعل على عنف الاحتلال الإسرائيلي المستمر منذ عقود، فكما يقول "حماس ليست المشكلة، بل هي النتيجة. الاحتلال والحصار هما السبب الحقيقي لكل ما يحدث في غزة".
تناول ليفي حماس بموضوعية نسبية، حيث لم ينحز إليها ولم يدنها بالكامل. ركز على دورها في الصراع وعلى كيفية استغلال إسرائيل وجودها لتبرير سياساتها العدوانية، مع التأكيد على أن إنهاء الاحتلال والحصار هو السبيل الوحيد لإنهاء العنف المتبادل.
عامة الكتاب مؤلم، شأن كل كتاب يتم كتابته عن غزة، وهو شهادة من الطرف الآخر، من شخص عنده ضمير، في ظل عالم افتقد للضمير واستباح كل شيء يقف أمام مصالحه.
ينقسم الكتاب إلى مقالات مرتبة حسب السنوات من 2014 وحتى 2024، تقدم كل منها مشهدًا مختلفًا من المأساة المستمرة.
جزء أول: يغطي حرب غزة 2014 وما تبعها من انتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان. يناقش ليفي "خرائط الألم" والسياسات العسكرية الإسرائيلية التي تركز على استهداف المدنيين.
جزء ثانٍ: يتناول آثار الاحتلال من الناحية الإنسانية، مع التركيز على قصص شخصية مثل الأطفال الذين فقدوا حياتهم والناجين من القصف.
جزء ثالث: يتناول اللامبالاة العالمية وتواطؤ المجتمع الدولي مع الاحتلال، ويطرح تساؤلات أخلاقية حول المستقبل السياسي للمنطقة.
الكتاب هو تفاصيل مروعة عن الجرائم التي ارتكبها الإسرائيليون في غزة، مستندًا إلى شهادات مباشرة من الضحايا والناجين، في حادثة وثقها ليفي عام 2014، كان أربعة أطفال يلعبون كرة القدم على شاطئ غزة. فجأة، استهدفتهم قذيفة أطلقتها البحرية الإسرائيلية، وحولتهم إلى أشلاء أمام أعين المارة.
يقول شاهد عيان: "كانوا يضحكون ويلعبون مثل أي أطفال آخرين. لم يكن هناك أي شيء مريب حولهم. رأيت القذيفة الأولى تسقط بينهم، ثم الثانية. لم أفهم لماذا قد يستهدفون أطفالًا يلعبون على الشاطئ".
إذا كنت تعتقد أن حال غزة قبل طوفان الأقصى كان ورديًا، فأنت لا تعرف أي شيء عن الحصار حول غزة، الذي يحرم المرضى من العلاج. يروي ليفي قصة الطفلة إسراء، التي كانت تعاني من سرطان الدم، ولم تتمكن من مغادرة غزة لتلقي العلاج بسبب القيود الإسرائيلية.
يقول والدها: "كنت أرى المرض يقتلها يومًا بعد يوم. عندما وافقوا أخيرًا على خروجنا، كان الأوان قد فات. ماتت ابنتي بين يدي، وأنا أعجز عن فعل أي شيء لإنقاذها".
من خلال هذه القصص، يظهر الكتاب أن المعاناة في غزة ليست فقط نتيجة الحرب، بل هي نتيجة نظام كامل من الحصار والاحتلال والتمييز. الشهادات الحية التي ينقلها ليفي تعكس الألم المستمر لشعب محاصر، يواجه الموت بصمت.
يوثق حرب 2014 على غزة، والتي أطلق عليها الإسرائيليون اسم "الجرف الصامد". يركز على الهجمات التي استهدفت المدنيين، بما في ذلك قصف المنازل والمدارس والمستشفيات. الكتاب يصف الاحتلال الإسرائيلي بأنه نظام فصل عنصري يعزز الهيمنة العرقية ويستمر في انتهاك حقوق الإنسان. يصف ليفي استهداف المدنيين في غزة بأنه جريمة حرب، مشيرًا إلى أن الجيش يتبنى سياسة "الموت للعرب" كجزء من استراتيجيته. ومن هنا يقول "غزة ليست مجرد مكان جغرافي، بل هي رمز للمعاناة الإنسانية ولعجز العالم عن تحقيق العدالة".
يوجّه جدعون ليفي انتقادات لاذعة للإعلام الإسرائيلي، الذي يصفه بأنه أحد العوامل الرئيسة في تبرير الاحتلال وقمع الفلسطينيين. يشير ليفي إلى أن الإعلام الإسرائيلي لا يقوم بدوره الأساسي كسلطة رابعة، بل يعمل كذراع دعائي للدولة والجيش. فهو يتخلى عن الموضوعية ويكرّس جهوده لتعزيز الرواية الرسمية. وكما يقول "الإعلام الإسرائيلي ارتدى الزي العسكري، ووقف في طابور واحد مع الجيش والحكومة، مُروّجًا للحرب بدلًا من نقدها".
يتهم ليفي الإعلام الإسرائيلي بالتعتيم المتعمد على الجرائم والانتهاكات ضد الفلسطينيين. ويشير إلى أن الجمهور الإسرائيلي يعرف أقل عن غزة مقارنة بالجمهور الدولي. كما يُصور الإعلام الفلسطينيين دائمًا كإرهابيين أو تهديدات أمنية، مما يرسّخ صورة نمطية تجعل من السهل تبرير العنف ضدهم. من جهة أخرى يلعب الإعلام دورًا مركزيًا في نزع الإنسانية عن الفلسطينيين من خلال سرديات مضللة، مما يجعل الجمهور غير مبالٍ بالمأساة في غزة.
ليفي لم يدافع عن حماس بشكل مباشر، لكنه دعا إلى فهم أعمق لدوافعها وسياستها في ظل الاحتلال وإن نقدها لعدم توفير ملاجيء للفلسطينيين. أشار إلى أن العنف الذي تمارسه حماس هو رد فعل على عنف الاحتلال الإسرائيلي المستمر منذ عقود، فكما يقول "حماس ليست المشكلة، بل هي النتيجة. الاحتلال والحصار هما السبب الحقيقي لكل ما يحدث في غزة".
تناول ليفي حماس بموضوعية نسبية، حيث لم ينحز إليها ولم يدنها بالكامل. ركز على دورها في الصراع وعلى كيفية استغلال إسرائيل وجودها لتبرير سياساتها العدوانية، مع التأكيد على أن إنهاء الاحتلال والحصار هو السبيل الوحيد لإنهاء العنف المتبادل.
عامة الكتاب مؤلم، شأن كل كتاب يتم كتابته عن غزة، وهو شهادة من الطرف الآخر، من شخص عنده ضمير، في ظل عالم افتقد للضمير واستباح كل شيء يقف أمام مصالحه.
July 23, 2025
Levy is a leftist journalist for Israeli newspaper Haaretz, and he is horrified and appalled by the direction his country has taken. He thinks it both a crime and a mistake. It's a crime in that he documents Israel committed actual war crimes. It's a mistake because it creates a short-lived "got them back" dopamine hit without actually achieving anything tangeable except creating more ill-will and anger towards resentment around the world.
The book is a series of articles and columns collected together. The first forty percent of the book covers various incursions Israel made into the Gaza Strip from 2014 until prior to Oct. 7, 2023. The rest of the book is how Israel has gone all-in on its violent approach.
He notes how dozens of prisoners have died in Israeli jails, often beaten to death. Some are with Hamas, others just randomly picked up. One was a key hospital employ. Israel doesn't care and concerns itself only with the Israelis taken prisoner on Oct. 7. Near the end of the book he notes Israel celebrating a mission that freed four hostages, and not even noting the 250+ Palestinians killed in the same operation. He notes how one security expert talking head pontificates about sending a disease into the Gaza strip to reduce numbers, and how there was no push back. One liberal politician flatly stated to Gaza that starving them to death is an option. It's all "us vs. them" dehumanization, so the 30,000+ deaths (at the time of the book's publication) in Gaza are a matter of no concern. Liberals and former peace camp-ers instead say that they've seen the light. Statements by the security state are allowed to stand with no pushback. The days of a massacre of a few hundred Palestinians by an Israeli-aligned militia causing huge demonstrations are over. He notes how there were IDF members refusing to serve pre-Oct. 7 (as many as 10,000, I believe he says) in a backlash over Netanyahu power grab, but since Oct. 7 not a single one has refused to serve. Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to arbitratary attacks and shootings by security forces of even just from settlers. Palestinian citizens in Israel are living in a state of constant tension, often afraid to leave their homes at all. A vote to remove all Arab lawmakers from the national assembly failed by just four votes. He bashes the media for being so compliant. He bashes Netanyahu for doing. He bashes the nation for giving into it. Levy notes at one point for all the criticism of Netanyahu, if someone else was in charge, you really can't see the policies actually changing.
The book is a series of articles and columns collected together. The first forty percent of the book covers various incursions Israel made into the Gaza Strip from 2014 until prior to Oct. 7, 2023. The rest of the book is how Israel has gone all-in on its violent approach.
He notes how dozens of prisoners have died in Israeli jails, often beaten to death. Some are with Hamas, others just randomly picked up. One was a key hospital employ. Israel doesn't care and concerns itself only with the Israelis taken prisoner on Oct. 7. Near the end of the book he notes Israel celebrating a mission that freed four hostages, and not even noting the 250+ Palestinians killed in the same operation. He notes how one security expert talking head pontificates about sending a disease into the Gaza strip to reduce numbers, and how there was no push back. One liberal politician flatly stated to Gaza that starving them to death is an option. It's all "us vs. them" dehumanization, so the 30,000+ deaths (at the time of the book's publication) in Gaza are a matter of no concern. Liberals and former peace camp-ers instead say that they've seen the light. Statements by the security state are allowed to stand with no pushback. The days of a massacre of a few hundred Palestinians by an Israeli-aligned militia causing huge demonstrations are over. He notes how there were IDF members refusing to serve pre-Oct. 7 (as many as 10,000, I believe he says) in a backlash over Netanyahu power grab, but since Oct. 7 not a single one has refused to serve. Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to arbitratary attacks and shootings by security forces of even just from settlers. Palestinian citizens in Israel are living in a state of constant tension, often afraid to leave their homes at all. A vote to remove all Arab lawmakers from the national assembly failed by just four votes. He bashes the media for being so compliant. He bashes Netanyahu for doing. He bashes the nation for giving into it. Levy notes at one point for all the criticism of Netanyahu, if someone else was in charge, you really can't see the policies actually changing.
July 12, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Thank you Verso Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mr. Book just finished The Killing Of Gaza: Reports On A Catastrophe, by Gideon Levy.
This is a collection of columns written by an Israeli journalist who is ashamed of how his country has acted towards Gaza. The author sums up the situation: “Since the first Lebanon war, more than 30 years ago, the killing of Arabs has become Israel’s primary strategic instrument. The IDF doesn’t wage war against armies, and its main target is civilian populations. Arabs are born only to kill and to be killed, as everyone knows. They have no other goal in life, and Israel kills them.”
Unlike in the United States, which tolerates no criticism of Israel by its politicians, media or other public figures, in Israel, you can criticize the government’s policies. You can criticize the atrocities. You can attack the man I used to refer as George W. Netanyahu before he stuck out long enough become Benjamin Trump. You can do all of that without the ridiculous accusations of anti-semitism. You can accept that “right to exist” means nothing other than Israel claiming for itself, with the assistance of the United States, to do whatever it is they want with impunity.
This book is an excellent series of articles calling out Israel’s actions in Gaza for what they are: acts of unjustified aggression and genocide against a civilian population.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 12, 2024.
Thank you Verso Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mr. Book just finished The Killing Of Gaza: Reports On A Catastrophe, by Gideon Levy.
This is a collection of columns written by an Israeli journalist who is ashamed of how his country has acted towards Gaza. The author sums up the situation: “Since the first Lebanon war, more than 30 years ago, the killing of Arabs has become Israel’s primary strategic instrument. The IDF doesn’t wage war against armies, and its main target is civilian populations. Arabs are born only to kill and to be killed, as everyone knows. They have no other goal in life, and Israel kills them.”
Unlike in the United States, which tolerates no criticism of Israel by its politicians, media or other public figures, in Israel, you can criticize the government’s policies. You can criticize the atrocities. You can attack the man I used to refer as George W. Netanyahu before he stuck out long enough become Benjamin Trump. You can do all of that without the ridiculous accusations of anti-semitism. You can accept that “right to exist” means nothing other than Israel claiming for itself, with the assistance of the United States, to do whatever it is they want with impunity.
This book is an excellent series of articles calling out Israel’s actions in Gaza for what they are: acts of unjustified aggression and genocide against a civilian population.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 12, 2024.
December 25, 2024
I think that this is an excellent book to share with loved ones who are still very much aligned on Israel already. If you have a parent who is critical of Netanyahu, while also being skeptical that mass war crimes or ethnic cleansing is not taking place, this is one I would recommend. It writes toward an audience that still places value on some type of centrism re: conflict, leaving space to help convince more people abroad- conventionally pro Israel in the way Western media projects- the severity of how if they want Israel to remain, it is a pro-Israel position.
(Now, for those of us who are already radicalised:)
As much as I value the work of Levy, it was surprising to me how frequently he placed Hamas as not just guilty of very real crimes (which he rightly addresses,) but as equal members with Israel. For instance, while discussing the torture in Israeli detention camps, he says something along the lines of, ‘Israel is now becoming like Hamas.’ Israel’s brutal torture camps came long before Hamas’ existence and drove Hamas *to* exist. If anything, the crimes of Hamas in this circumstance would be better described as Hamas becoming like Israeli prisoner guards tormenting innocent captives. Israel did not become like Hamas- Israel created Hamas in its own reflection. I am unsure how much of this also comes down to these excerpts being from an Israeli media outlet, and I understand how the framing when trying to convince a domestic audience may need to follow the ‘Hamas is monstrous, we can’t be like Hamas’ rhythm. But things like saying Hamas is to blame for not building bomb shelters or hoarding food in advance, to compare with the genocidal campaign of the IOF, felt off-base. There are plenty reasons to criticise Hamas- none the less being from the emotive scenes Levy spoke of the aftermath on October 7th- but to mention these without saying how concrete is limited, how food is kept at a deficit prior to October 7th already, as on an equal moral playing field was surprising to me based on what good work Levy has done even throughout the articles.
(Now, for those of us who are already radicalised:)
As much as I value the work of Levy, it was surprising to me how frequently he placed Hamas as not just guilty of very real crimes (which he rightly addresses,) but as equal members with Israel. For instance, while discussing the torture in Israeli detention camps, he says something along the lines of, ‘Israel is now becoming like Hamas.’ Israel’s brutal torture camps came long before Hamas’ existence and drove Hamas *to* exist. If anything, the crimes of Hamas in this circumstance would be better described as Hamas becoming like Israeli prisoner guards tormenting innocent captives. Israel did not become like Hamas- Israel created Hamas in its own reflection. I am unsure how much of this also comes down to these excerpts being from an Israeli media outlet, and I understand how the framing when trying to convince a domestic audience may need to follow the ‘Hamas is monstrous, we can’t be like Hamas’ rhythm. But things like saying Hamas is to blame for not building bomb shelters or hoarding food in advance, to compare with the genocidal campaign of the IOF, felt off-base. There are plenty reasons to criticise Hamas- none the less being from the emotive scenes Levy spoke of the aftermath on October 7th- but to mention these without saying how concrete is limited, how food is kept at a deficit prior to October 7th already, as on an equal moral playing field was surprising to me based on what good work Levy has done even throughout the articles.
April 8, 2025
**.5
Essentially a continuation of his previous book "The Punishment of Gaza", this one published in the wake of Oct 7. The format is similar, with most of the content comprised of Levy's op-eds in Ha'aretz (Israel's left leaning newspaper), book-ended with an introduction and afterward.
All of my criticism of the first book still apply here, so I won't repeat them, and instead focus on what's new. First, Levy deserves credit for being one of the few voices in Israeli journalism that still cares about the plight of the Palestinians, and works tirelessly and thanklessly to bring their plight to the attention of a wounded nation which has little empathy left for a brutal and intractable enemy. Levy forces his Israeli readers to look beyond their own pain and rage and face the consequences of the war. Aside from Ha'aretz these are largely unreported by Israeli MSM, but familiar to anyone who watches BBC or reads the NY Times, let alone sources like Al Jazeera or most social media. Hence there is little new here for most readers of this English edition, who have been bombarded with anti-Israeli propaganda and don't need further evidence that the civilian population in Gaza is suffering.
More frustrating is the lack of anything constructive in all of the writings. Levy conceded that Oct. 7 was an intolerable and heinous terrorist attack, but offers no alternative solution to uprooting Hamas. He condemns the brutality of the IDF, but offers no suggestions on how to wage such a war without impacting the civilian population. He doesn't mention that the war would be over instantly if Hamas would simply release the hostages. He doesn't offer any comparisons to similar conflicts in other places that would help the reader assess the validity of the tactics used or the strategic approach. As a result, it's not really clear what he's actually asking for, other than to make Israelis care about their neighbours. If that's the goal, then he does a pretty good job of it, but otherwise it's a bunch of complaining without many tangible demands.
Essentially a continuation of his previous book "The Punishment of Gaza", this one published in the wake of Oct 7. The format is similar, with most of the content comprised of Levy's op-eds in Ha'aretz (Israel's left leaning newspaper), book-ended with an introduction and afterward.
All of my criticism of the first book still apply here, so I won't repeat them, and instead focus on what's new. First, Levy deserves credit for being one of the few voices in Israeli journalism that still cares about the plight of the Palestinians, and works tirelessly and thanklessly to bring their plight to the attention of a wounded nation which has little empathy left for a brutal and intractable enemy. Levy forces his Israeli readers to look beyond their own pain and rage and face the consequences of the war. Aside from Ha'aretz these are largely unreported by Israeli MSM, but familiar to anyone who watches BBC or reads the NY Times, let alone sources like Al Jazeera or most social media. Hence there is little new here for most readers of this English edition, who have been bombarded with anti-Israeli propaganda and don't need further evidence that the civilian population in Gaza is suffering.
More frustrating is the lack of anything constructive in all of the writings. Levy conceded that Oct. 7 was an intolerable and heinous terrorist attack, but offers no alternative solution to uprooting Hamas. He condemns the brutality of the IDF, but offers no suggestions on how to wage such a war without impacting the civilian population. He doesn't mention that the war would be over instantly if Hamas would simply release the hostages. He doesn't offer any comparisons to similar conflicts in other places that would help the reader assess the validity of the tactics used or the strategic approach. As a result, it's not really clear what he's actually asking for, other than to make Israelis care about their neighbours. If that's the goal, then he does a pretty good job of it, but otherwise it's a bunch of complaining without many tangible demands.
January 5, 2025
This is a must read book to see a view into the massive wide reaching control Israel exerts on Palestinians, not just in Gaza, but the West Bank also.
I feel this definately needs to be read alongside a general Israel / Palestine conflict history book, as it does not go into the origins of the conflict, but instead explores the few years before the outbreak of the recent war, and then its effects, focusing on Gaza, West Bank and Israeli societies morals / ethics (or lack of).
Some of the best segments of the book covered the way settlers are using the war as cover to steal Palestinian land in the West Bank (152). And his essay 'the only way' pg 105 should be plastered on the desk of every Politician world over, it is the simple truth. If Palestinians are not engaging in 'terrorism', then their cause is completely forgotten and they suffer in silence, there is no other mechanism but violence to get their rights on the international agenda. This current war has attested to that.
The only downside to this book is that I was quite suprised it skipped a few what I considered to be a few quite major developments. Initially, there was very little in the book about the 2021 war, or the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.
Moving onto the current war, there was 3 key elements which I believe have been very significant in the last 15 months, which Ifeel did not get the attention they should have.
- The killing of the 3 Israeli hostages by IDF, despite them being unarmed and half naked. Proving beyond any doubt IDF is indeed hell bent on killing anybody they see.
- The killing of the aid workers of 'world central kitchen' and the shameful lack of reaction from the countries of the killed aidworkers.
-And the shameful responses globally to the war, specifically US/ UK as well as the global media completely failing to cover the suffering in Gaza during the start of the war, instead rolling coverage of Israeli suffering only.
I feel this definately needs to be read alongside a general Israel / Palestine conflict history book, as it does not go into the origins of the conflict, but instead explores the few years before the outbreak of the recent war, and then its effects, focusing on Gaza, West Bank and Israeli societies morals / ethics (or lack of).
Some of the best segments of the book covered the way settlers are using the war as cover to steal Palestinian land in the West Bank (152). And his essay 'the only way' pg 105 should be plastered on the desk of every Politician world over, it is the simple truth. If Palestinians are not engaging in 'terrorism', then their cause is completely forgotten and they suffer in silence, there is no other mechanism but violence to get their rights on the international agenda. This current war has attested to that.
The only downside to this book is that I was quite suprised it skipped a few what I considered to be a few quite major developments. Initially, there was very little in the book about the 2021 war, or the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.
Moving onto the current war, there was 3 key elements which I believe have been very significant in the last 15 months, which Ifeel did not get the attention they should have.
- The killing of the 3 Israeli hostages by IDF, despite them being unarmed and half naked. Proving beyond any doubt IDF is indeed hell bent on killing anybody they see.
- The killing of the aid workers of 'world central kitchen' and the shameful lack of reaction from the countries of the killed aidworkers.
-And the shameful responses globally to the war, specifically US/ UK as well as the global media completely failing to cover the suffering in Gaza during the start of the war, instead rolling coverage of Israeli suffering only.
March 2, 2025
Gideon Levy is an award-winning Israeli journalist, weekly columnist for the newspaper Haaretz, and child of Holocaust survivors. The Killing of Gaza was difficult to both read and rate. It begins with reports from 2014 and ends in May 2024. It was painful reading the details in early 2025, knowing that destruction continued long past May 2024, and with a ceasefire only just being announced while I was reading this book. The Killing of Gaza felt like a desperate, impassioned, but fatigued plea to Levy’s fellow Israeli’s to see past the propaganda to the reality of the situation. He frequently critiques other Israeli news outlets for reporting in a nationalistic and public relations style way, accusing them of doing the work of creating propaganda for the Israeli government when they don’t have to. Prior to 2006 Levy frequently visited the Gaza Strip to report, but after his last visit in November 2006, Israeli journalists were prohibited from entering and he hasn’t been back since. He often wonders what has happened to many of the people he met during his time reporting in the strip. The reports are detailed and harrowing, I was only able to read a few pages at a time. This isn’t a story of a hope, but a single man making a record so that his fellow countrymen cannot one day say “but we didn’t know what was happening”.
Thanks to Verso Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Verso Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2025
Gideon Levy is the rare Israeli journalist who has consistently condemned Israel's apartheid and now genocide of the Palestinians of Gaza. Israel has been allowed to do absolutely anything and everything in the name of "defeating Hamas." Thousands of Palestinians have been killed indiscriminately and prisoners have been tortured and not given a trial. Unfortunately, the only time the world even thinks about the Palestinians and their condition is when they fight. Levy writes:
Look what happens to Gaza between the rocket barrages. Who pays attention to it? Who cares about it? Everyone already wants to forget about the Palestinians' existence. People are tired of hearing about Palestinian suffering, and the quiet makes it possible.
Only when the bullets fly, the knives strike and the rockets boom do people remember that there is another people here with a terrible problem that must be resolved.
You can't expect an oppressed people to not rise up against their oppressors. I'm not condoning anything Hamas did. Terrorism is evil. AND Israel is behaving no differently than Hamas, and could even be blamed for Hamas's rise to power.
Levy argues rightly that Gaza's liberation is the only path to lasting peace in Israel.
Look what happens to Gaza between the rocket barrages. Who pays attention to it? Who cares about it? Everyone already wants to forget about the Palestinians' existence. People are tired of hearing about Palestinian suffering, and the quiet makes it possible.
Only when the bullets fly, the knives strike and the rockets boom do people remember that there is another people here with a terrible problem that must be resolved.
You can't expect an oppressed people to not rise up against their oppressors. I'm not condoning anything Hamas did. Terrorism is evil. AND Israel is behaving no differently than Hamas, and could even be blamed for Hamas's rise to power.
Levy argues rightly that Gaza's liberation is the only path to lasting peace in Israel.
February 17, 2025
Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist with a long career covering the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This collection of essays spans about a decade of reporting, with the first third or so highlighting key pieces of political and news events that contextualize the events of October 7, 2023. I found these essays to be the most helpful in broadening my knowledge. This book is mostly geared towards an audience that is staunchly pro-Israel.
I struggled with some of his more moderate arguments, especially those that criticize the most egregious acts of settler-colonial violence while sidestepping the issue of the Israeli occupation. I found myself bogged down in the 2023 essays, as I am not the target audience who needs convincing of Israel's disproportionate and inhumane military response. Even so, I found the decade's worth of context particularly illuminating, and Levy's proximity to and firsthand experience in Gaza (albeit from some years ago, when journalists could more easily access Gaza) are singular and noteworthy.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled with some of his more moderate arguments, especially those that criticize the most egregious acts of settler-colonial violence while sidestepping the issue of the Israeli occupation. I found myself bogged down in the 2023 essays, as I am not the target audience who needs convincing of Israel's disproportionate and inhumane military response. Even so, I found the decade's worth of context particularly illuminating, and Levy's proximity to and firsthand experience in Gaza (albeit from some years ago, when journalists could more easily access Gaza) are singular and noteworthy.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2025
Israeli journalist Gideon Levy shares his Haaretz reporting from before, during, and after the events of October 7, 2023 in a must-read exploration of the catastrophe in Gaza. Largely critical of Israel's apartheid policies against the Palestinian people, Levy leverages his decades of on-the-ground reporting to share personal stories of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians while also explaining the historical and geopolitical context to educate his audience and sharing his opinions about the tragedies in this region. Levy discusses the events of October 7 respectfully, carefully showing both perspectives to illustrate why Israel's tragedy was horrific but also not enough to justify the murders of tens of thousands of people across the border. He condemns Hamas but brings a level of humanity to Gazans that simply does not exist elsewhere in the largely propaganda-oriented Israeli media in an attempt to bring a level of humanity to a conflict so often seen as "good vs. evil" when the realities are a billion times more complex. Levy's reporting is brave and heroic, especially post-October 7 as Israelis who voice support for anyone but Netanyahu are condemned or worse.
November 7, 2024
video book review: https://youtu.be/DScIKhCikW4
Levy's up-to-the-moment reporting gives non-Hebrew-readers a chance to see what has been happening inside Israel and the West Bank since Oct 7, 2023. In some ways, it's nothing new, and a continuation of his column-book The Punishment of Gaza (by nothing new, of course I mean the senseless murder of unarmed men, women, and children). In other ways, it's a reminder that Israeli society has never been more murderous and unfeeling as it is at this moment, and perhaps something will change, at least internally. Levy maintains hope, so that allows me to do the same.
"On Israeli television, alone in the world, we didn't kill children. According to the Israeli media, the IDF hasn't committed in this war even one tiny little war crime." (p. 157)
(quoting Yair Golan) "As far as we're concerned, you can starve to death. That's completely legitimate." (p. 196)
Levy's up-to-the-moment reporting gives non-Hebrew-readers a chance to see what has been happening inside Israel and the West Bank since Oct 7, 2023. In some ways, it's nothing new, and a continuation of his column-book The Punishment of Gaza (by nothing new, of course I mean the senseless murder of unarmed men, women, and children). In other ways, it's a reminder that Israeli society has never been more murderous and unfeeling as it is at this moment, and perhaps something will change, at least internally. Levy maintains hope, so that allows me to do the same.
"On Israeli television, alone in the world, we didn't kill children. According to the Israeli media, the IDF hasn't committed in this war even one tiny little war crime." (p. 157)
(quoting Yair Golan) "As far as we're concerned, you can starve to death. That's completely legitimate." (p. 196)
October 22, 2024
This is a gut-wrenching collection of articles vividly outlining the ongoing human tragedy of Gaza and the Palestinian people in general. It is very well written, the people Levy speaks of become human and unique through his words, even with so many of them no longer alive. It is astounding the writer can continue reporting these horrors over so many years without burning out or being hauled off by the Israeli police. The writer offers a profoundly insightful view as to how this will more likely unfold over time.
Sadly, it is highly unlikely this book will become a New York Times bestseller, nor garner any literary accolades. Quoting from the book - "The world wasn't interested this time. It's tired. Let them bleed. A condemnation, yawn, pee and to bed."
Sadly, it is highly unlikely this book will become a New York Times bestseller, nor garner any literary accolades. Quoting from the book - "The world wasn't interested this time. It's tired. Let them bleed. A condemnation, yawn, pee and to bed."
January 12, 2026
As other reviewers have mentioned, the author's contention that Hamas could have been building hospitals and shelters instead of tunnels is contradictory to his other statements that Israel is destroying everything it can in Gaza, including hospitals. He assigns blame to Hamas as if it was the reason for Israel's genocide. Although the author does criticize Israel and its military (IDF) and political leaders, he seems to entertain the idea that Israel is still some kind of a legitimate country, instead of the terrorist, rogue nation it has always been. There is one short paragraph near the end of the book in which the author admits Israel has never submitted to any international law. He also fails to acknowledge that the U.S. government is completely dominated by Zionists.
September 10, 2025
I'm only 30 pages in, and finding myself resenting buying this book because of Levy's frustratingly neutral descriptions of Genocide. I bought this book because I'd seen it highly praised for its condemnation of Israel- but Levy consistently finds ways to shift blame to Palestinians for their own oppression, and equate the experiences of Palestinians and Israelis (as if the suffering of the oppressor could ever come close to the suffering of the oppressed?!). For a book that has been praised as humane and clear-eyed, it is horrifically sympathetic of those committing Genocide rather than the victims.
November 11, 2024
An extremely heavy read — Levy does not shy away from describing the suffering of the Palestinian people in terrifying detail. It’s difficult not to feel outrage and sorrow and grief upon learning more about the past, present, and likely future of the Palestinian people under Israeli dominance. Levy forces readers to confront with clear eyes the calamity befalling Palestine and lends readers the words and stories and arguments with which to speak up against the most inhumane man-made devastation of our generation.
May 21, 2025
Gideon Levy, an Israeli journalist for Haaretz newspaper, writes extensively on the horrors Gaza has incurred through the years. He acts as the nation’s conscience when calling out its brutal occupation and siege of this Palestinian territory.
This book is an anthology of his columns from Haaretz on this very topic, spanning 2014 to 2024. The first half is 2014 to 2023 and the back half spans October 7, 2023 to June 2024 in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack and Israel’s response.
A necessary read and Levy is an important dissident that deserves to be heard.
This book is an anthology of his columns from Haaretz on this very topic, spanning 2014 to 2024. The first half is 2014 to 2023 and the back half spans October 7, 2023 to June 2024 in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack and Israel’s response.
A necessary read and Levy is an important dissident that deserves to be heard.
July 8, 2025
Gideon Levy is as brave a man as I would ever dream of being. In a country torn away from democracy and reason, cast into callous hatred and criminal negligence, his accounts offer an olive branch which legends such of Said could’ve taken up, if only he’d lived to see it. I do find it unlikely that two men such as they are should ever meet and resolve the question of Palestine. However, one can dream.
October 11, 2025
Levy is so incredible at writing about the hypocrisies within Israeli society, at times with such sarcastic black humor, that you can feel the rage that he has been carrying for years. It’s like reading the writings of an Old Testament prophet who is cursed to watch his horrific tidings come true as nobody listens. A tough read from start to finish, but incredibly glad it exists for those in the future to read and reflect upon.
July 15, 2025
This is a hard read. The topic is heavy, of course. The author recounts stories from Gazans whose families are war torn and adds rhetorical questions almost constantly. “Has humanity have no humanity?” That’s basically the same tone the whole book. I’m glad he wrote it and I’m glad he invested his life to sharing the struggle. As humans we have to do better on all sides.
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