Sunera Thobani: Israel will no doubt continue to justify its genocidal politics by offering its usual Islamophobic platitudes, that is, Palestinians don’t value human life; Hamas is a terrorist organization; they use their own children, families and communities as human shields; Israel lives daily under the threat of extinction, etc. etc. And its political backers, particularly those in the US, Canadian and European media, will continue to help peddle this racist colonial discourse, demonizing Hamas and dehumanizing Palestinians. Some of them may even wring their hands as they do so. But it is clear that Israel has been pushed to the brink by the strength of the Palestinian resistance. Operation Protective Edge has now taken Israel over the edge as it lashes out in a largely self-defeating – albeit murderous – strategy. All Israel has to offer is more massacres, more death, more destruction. This violence has to be made to stop immediately. The situation is dire for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, but it is certainly far from hopeless. The anger and resistance of Gazans is inspiring Palestinians in the West Bank and in Israel to rise up again; even Mahmoud Abbas was pushed into expressing solidarity with the Hamas position on the cease-fire. Palestinians have demonstrated again and again their resolve to end the Israeli occupation of their lands. The inspiration of this resistance is further felt in the growing support around the world for the BDS movement’s call for an arms embargo on Israel. The challenge to activists internationally is to intensify the pressure for this embargo. To do otherwise while Israel’s military arsenal becomes even bigger is to be complicit in its genocide of the Palestinians. More here.