The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a stark example of how Western colonialist ideologies continue to shape global narratives about power, resistance, and justice. Supporters of Israel, particularly from Western societies, often justify occupation through a lens of entitlement and superiority, dismissing the right of indigenous people to resist. This perspective not only mirrors the logic of colonial domination but also perpetuates racial hierarchies that dehumanize those who oppose such oppression. Addressing this issue requires a critical examination of the colonial legacy embedded in these narratives and its ongoing impact on Palestinian resistance.
Western colonialism has long upheld the notion that the powerful have a right to claim land and resources, often at the expense of indigenous populations. This ideology frames resistance as illegitimate, branding it as savage, irrational, or terroristic, rather than a legitimate struggle for liberation. Nelson Mandela’s assertion, “It is always the oppressor, not the oppressed, who dictates the form of the struggle,” resonates deeply in this context. The expectation that Palestinians should resist “politely” while enduring systemic violence reflects the same condescending moral framework that justified colonial rule across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
This colonial mindset is further evident in the Western discourse surrounding martyrdom operations, often dismissed as “suicide bombings.” Such reductive framing ignores the context of prolonged occupation, systemic disenfranchisement, and the desperation born of living under an oppressive regime. It erases the humanity of the oppressed and reinforces the narrative of the colonizer, in which resistance is always criminalized.
Israel’s actions following October 7 reveal the extent of this ideology in practice. The indiscriminate killing of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians is framed as collateral damage or blamed on resistance fighters “hiding among civilians.” In truth, these deaths reflect a deliberate strategy to quash any form of opposition, no matter how justified. This brutality is rooted in the same racial superiority complex that underpinned Western colonial ventures, where the lives of indigenous people were deemed expendable in the pursuit of domination.
For Palestinians – whether in the occupied territories, within “Israel proper,” or across the diaspora – their resistance is not only a fight against occupation but also a rejection of the colonial ideologies that have dehumanized them for decades. Their struggle resonates across the Middle East, uniting Arabs, Muslims, and Christians who have been similarly impacted by this ideology of Western superiority and control.
The narratives justifying Israel’s occupation and delegitimizing Palestinian resistance are deeply intertwined with Western colonialist ideologies. These perspectives uphold power structures that prioritize the oppressor’s entitlement over the oppressed’s humanity. Challenging these narratives requires confronting the colonial legacies that continue to influence global politics and recognizing the right of all people to resist occupation and oppression. Only through this lens can justice, dignity, and true liberation for Palestinians and other oppressed communities be achieved.
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