New Publication Offers Decolonial Perspective on Israel’s Actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
A newly published article, A Decolonial Analysis of Israel’s Actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, authored by Oğuzhan Öztürk, LL.M., examines the events following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel. The article, featured in Year 16, Issue 29 of Law & Justice Review journal, spans pages 73-86 and provides a decolonial lens on Israel’s subsequent military and political actions.
In the paper, Öztürk contends that while the international community initially supported Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas’ actions, the response that followed has raised significant alarm, with accusations of genocide and war crimes surfacing against Israel. The author argues that these Israeli actions are rooted in a colonial mindset, portraying Palestinians not as equals with legitimate rights but as subjects to be dominated.
The paper underscores how Israel’s actions, marked by aggressive military strategies and policies that prioritise its security over the well-being of Palestinians, have been regarded by many in the international community as genocidal. The analysis explores various colonial techniques employed by Israel, including exclusion, double standards, and the portrayal of Palestinians as terrorists. These practices, the paper argues, dehumanise Palestinians and reinforce colonial dynamics within the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Drawing on seventy years of global condemnation and academic debate surrounding Israel’s policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the article focuses specifically on the rhetoric of senior Israeli officials and the strategies employed post-October 7th.
This piece provides fresh insights into how colonial paradigms shape contemporary events in the Israel-Palestine conflict and offers a decolonial framework for understanding the current war.
* To read the article, click here
