These position papers were written as part of our effort to fight the dehumanization of Israelis in the West and the dehumanization of Palestinians, specifically Gaza residents, in Israel and among parts of the pro-Israeli camp. The papers include a description of both phenomena and their expansion after the outbreak of the war in Gaza,  data, analysis, and recommendations. The position paper on the dehumanization of Gazans was written in Hebrew as it mainly addresses Israeli decision makers, and the position paper on the dehumanization of Israelis was written in English to mainly address decision makers in the US and the international community. 

This project is part of the activity of the Pro-Human Campaign – a global coalition of civil society organizations and activists, led by Amnesty International Israel. The campaign was established after October 7th with the mission to spread a clear voice of humanism and the universality of human rights. Creating positive and just plans for the day after the war must also include a fight against the trends of dehumanization of both sides.

The dehumanization of Gazans in Israel

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The position paper in Hebrew>>

The following position paper deals with the broadening of the dehumanization of the residents of the Gaza Strip in Israel and presents data that undermines the central and fundamental principles underlying this trend. 

Dehumanization has been more pronounced since the outbreak of the war on October 7th. Many photographs and tweets from October 7th — which revealed the joy of some residents of the Gaza Strip at the massacre and other atrocities — strengthened the hostility felt by the Israeli public toward Palestinians. These attitudes and expressions are undoubtedly shocking and outrageous. And yet, international law forbids the deliberate targeting of civilians, regardless of their political positions. 

The central perceptions of Israelis that underlie the dehumanization of Palestinians, and which frequently appear in the public discourse, are that most or all Gaza residents are supporters of Hamas and their ilk; that that support is entrenched and fixed, and therefore unrelated to Israeli policy or state actions; and that support for Hamas indicates support for the massacre, whether through acts of rape and other atrocities that Hamas militants and other Palestinians committed on October 7th. Public opinion polls, particularly those conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, show that support by Gazans for a solution that recognizes the existence of the other (a two-state solution) has increased since the war began, and that support for Hamas varies according to circumstance, and thus is not fixed. Finally, the surveys suggest that support for Hamas, and even support for the attack carried out on October 7, does not necessarily amount to support for the massacre and atrocities committed against civilians on that same “Black Saturday.” 

The dehumanization of Gaza Palestinians has practical results in the form of an Israeli policy and in the way the Israeli army is fighting the war, which has harmed hundreds of thousands of uninvolved Palestinians. This paper includes concrete recommendations for editors and producers of news programs as well as for educators on the desired course of action to promote the re-humanization of the residents of the Gaza Strip.

The dehumanization of Israelis in the US

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This paper focuses on the extending dehumanization of Israelis in the US. Following the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, dehumanization of Israelis gained momentum. 

Dehumanizing is a key component in the ongoing cycle of violence in many conflicts as in this current escalation. Nevertheless, the public discourse in the West does not recognize the dehumanization of Israelis. It usually deals with two other concepts in regard to the protest against the war: antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The dehumanization of Israelis is not mentioned or spoken of. These are distinct  phenomena which require different references. The dehumanization of Israelis is characterized by the denial or downplaying of the humanity of Israeli citizens and can often be accompanied by the rationalization of violence against them. 

Israel's ongoing oppression of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories warrants international criticism and accountability but this criticism shouldn't devolve into dehumanization. A survey from an December 2023 Harvard Harris Poll reveals concerning statistics regarding attitudes towards Israeli victims. A substantial percentage of American respondents in the age groups 18-24 (60%), 25-34 (44%), and 35-44 (40%) believe that the actions of Hamas, including the killing of 1200 Israeli civilians and the kidnapping of 250 others, can be justified by Palestinians’ grievances. The paper offers detailed recommendations to combat dehumanization of Israelis