Emptying Gaza: Norman Finkelstein and Chris Hedges on Genocide, Silence, and the Collapse of Moral Institutions

Published on: April 21, 2025

Introduction

In a recent interview on The Chris Hedges Report, renowned scholar Norman Finkelstein offers a searing analysis of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Far from being a war on Hamas, Finkelstein argues, Israel’s assault is a calculated strategy to depopulate Gaza permanently. The interview dives into the mechanics of this violence, the global silence that enables it, and the disturbing complicity of institutions—from media to academia.

Gaza: The Blueprint for Genocide

Finkelstein lays out a three-pronged strategy that has guided Israel’s actions in Gaza:

Genocide – Mass killing executed with bureaucratic efficiency.
Ethnic Cleansing – Limited success due to regional resistance to refugee displacement.
Fait Accompli – Destroying Gaza’s infrastructure to make life unlivable.

He emphasizes that no 21st-century atrocity compares to Gaza: over 1,900 children were killed in just one month—eclipsing even the worst periods of the Syrian civil war.

The Illusion of War: “This is Not About Hamas”

The rhetoric around “destroying Hamas” is a cover, Finkelstein says. With minimal Israeli casualties and no reported large-scale battles in Gaza, the reality is not war but extermination. The actual goal: remove all Gazans.

How Media & Global Distraction Enable Genocide

Timing is no accident. Israel often escalates violence when the world is distracted—such as the 2014 invasion during the Malaysia Airlines crash. Today, Gaza vanishes from headlines as U.S. media pivots to Trump trials and election drama.

Meanwhile, essential supplies—food, water, electricity—are deliberately blocked, intensifying Gaza’s humanitarian collapse. The suffering isn’t incidental; it’s meant to pressure Arab neighbors to accept refugees and erase Palestine altogether.

Failed Displacement Plans and Regional Tensions

U.S. and Israeli officials have floated relocating Gazans to Sudan, Somalia, or Somaliland. All proposals have floundered. Sudan rejected the plan outright. Syria is inaccessible. Egypt is caught between accusations of militarizing Sinai and Israel’s own treaty violations.

Suppression at Home: Media, Academia, and Billionaire Influence

Finkelstein and Hedges turn their attention to the United States, where media and academic institutions have become tools of suppression:

Media Smokescreens: U.S. outlets portray student protests as antisemitic—despite zero incidents of violence against Jewish students.
Donor Blackmail: Billionaires like Bill Ackman and Sheryl Sandberg pressure universities to crush campus protests. Screams Before Silence, a widely promoted propaganda film, depicts Palestinians as mass rapists—shown even at the White House.
University Purges: Three Ivy League presidents—two women of color—were ousted under donor pressure. Academic freedom is under unprecedented assault.

The Decline of Free Speech and the Humanities

Finkelstein also laments the intellectual decay in academia. Canonical literature like Shakespeare and Richard Wright is being replaced by ideological or sanitized content. Students at elite institutions are now more protected from discomfort than challenged to think critically.

International Law: A Voice Without Power

The International Court of Justice bravely acknowledged genocide in Gaza—but couldn’t stop it. Legal courage is rendered moot without enforcement. Meanwhile, powerful states continue to obstruct justice, echoing past failures like the retraction of the 2009 Goldstone Report.

Final Thoughts: Gaza as the Moral Litmus Test

This is not just about Gaza. It’s about what we, as a global society, are willing to tolerate. The silence of media, the retreat of universities, and the weaponization of identity politics to suppress dissent reflect a deeper moral rot. As Gaza burns, so too does our collective credibility.

Want to Know More?

Finkelstein’s upcoming book, Gaza’s Grave Diggers, will further explore the complicity of global elites in this genocide. Stay tuned for its release.

Like what you read?
Share this post, leave a comment, and subscribe for more analysis on global justice, media integrity, and political accountability.

Comments

💔 One Eye for Gaza: Hannah Thomas and the Price of Speaking Truth

🖋️ By Malik Mukhtar 📍 ainnbeen.blogspot.com | 🗓️ June 29, 2025 She stood on the pavement—Hannah Thomas, lawyer, activist, former Greens candidate. She stood—holding no weapon, only a banner and a conscience. She stood—outside a factory that allegedly helps plate the steel for F-35 jets now raining hell on Gaza. And for that—Australian police slammed her to the ground. Now, she may never see from her right eye again. Let that sentence burn into your mind: “She may lose her sight—for standing against genocide.” 🇵🇸 In Gaza, Eyes Are Lost Forever In Gaza, there are no surgeons left for eyes. Eyes are buried beneath concrete. Eyes were starved shut. Eyes were blinded by phosphorus, smoke, dust. Children in Gaza have forgotten what it means to look up without fear. And still, the bombs fall. From October 7, 2023 to now, tens of thousands dead—many torn apart by American-made weapons, polished and prepped by foreign contractors. The livestream genocide has not stopped. The...

🕯️ The Day Tel Aviv Trembled: Iran’s Missiles and the Crumbling Illusion of Invincibility

By ainnbeen.blogspot.com For decades, Israel projected an image of invulnerability— a fortress powered by American billions , state-of-the-art missile defenses, and a myth of unmatched military precision. But in a chilling shift, that illusion is cracking. As Iranian missiles rained down on Tel Aviv, not through proxies but directly from Tehran, the world witnessed what was once unthinkable: the heart of Israel under direct attack, air-raid sirens wailing , embassies shuttered , and diplomats fleeing. This isn’t just a military development —it’s a political earthquake . And it exposes deep fractures in Israel’s defense doctrine, regional strategy, and perhaps most importantly —its belief that it could strike without consequence. 🔥 1. Iranian Missiles Hit Tel Aviv: The Strike That Shattered Complacency In what appears to be retaliation for Israel’s continuous sabotage campaigns — nuclear facility strikes , assassinations of IRGC commanders — Iran unleashed a salvo...

🇮🇱🎭 When Israel Speaks, America obeys: From Truman’s Nod to Trump’s Prayer Rug 🇺🇸🛐

By Ainnbeen.blogspot.com Welcome to the Middle East’s longest-running tragicomedy: " The Chosen Puppet Show." From 1948 to 2025 , it’s been a masterclass in manipulation. But don’t take my word for it—just ask Israel’s most recent “ambassador” to Washington, Mike Huckabee , who now speaks not just for Israel, but apparently for God Himself. Yes, you read that right. In a message that sounds more like a Sunday sermon than a diplomatic dispatch, Huckabee called Trump “ the most consequential president in a century – maybe ever.” And why? Because he’s listening to “the voice of God”...on Israel policy . Oh, we’re doing this again. Because when Israel wants billions in weapons, moral cover for war crimes, or a fresh round of sanctions against whichever Muslim country is next on the hit list—there’s always a “divinely inspired” American president standing by. Let’s rewind a bit. 🎬 Scene One: The Truman Trick In 1948, President Harry Truman recognized Israel eleven...

🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran’s Missile Strikes on U.S. Bases | June 23, 2025 Operation Tidings of Victory

📍 What Happened On the evening of June 23 , around 8:00 p.m. local time (17:00 UTC) , Iran launched a coordinated missile attack on multiple U.S. military sites: Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar : ~10 missiles launched. Explosions were heard over Doha. Qatar’s air defense systems intercepted several. U.S. outposts in Iraq : Specific bases were hit; names have not been officially disclosed. Mentions of the U.S. Consulate in Erbil and sites in Kuwait : Reports are unconfirmed regarding direct hits in Kuwait. 📉 Damage & Casualties No confirmed U.S. fatalities or serious injuries reported. Damage appears limited to infrastructure: some runways, radar systems, tents, and non-critical equipment were affected. Qatar successfully intercepted multiple missiles. No civilian injuries have been reported in Doha. In Iraq and Kuwait , initial assessments indicate no significant troop harm . 📌 Background & Context The attack is seen as a retaliatory strike by Iran for...

🛡️ Israel's Air-Defense Under Pressure: A Rising Iranian Hypersonic Threat

🛡️ Israel’s Iron Dome May Hold—But for How Long? As Iran expands its missile arsenal with supersonic and hypersonic capabilities, Israel’s once-famed air defense now faces a triple crisis: strategic, economic, and societal . While the world watches air battles unfold in the skies, the deeper vulnerabilities lie beneath—in the nation's fatigued population, overstretched military, and fragile economic base. 🚨 Strategic Threat: The Iranian Hypersonic Surge Iran reportedly maintains over 3,000 ballistic missiles , including: Fattah-1 & Fattah-2 : Hypersonic glide vehicles (Mach 13–15+). Khorramshahr-4 & Qassem Bassir : With maneuverable warheads and terminal speeds that can overwhelm Israel’s Arrow and David’s Sling systems. Thousands of SRBMs (Zolfaghar, Qiam, Fateh variants) capable of saturating Iron Dome through sheer volume. While Israel’s Iron Dome remains highly effective against traditional threats (85–90% interception rate), hypersonic missiles introd...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog