The global rejection of the genocide in Gaza had begun to carve its way into political decision-making circles in the “West,” where Israel has always received its impunity. Five countries — the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway — imposed sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli ministers most explicit in their genocidal intent. Spain had announced the suspension of arms sales to Israel, and France was preparing for an international conference to recognize Palestine as part of the two-state solution. None of this alleviated the agony of Palestinian children in Gaza. But it indicated that the world had begun to see Palestinian suffering.
Then Israel attacked Iran.
The fact that Gaza moved to second place in the news cycle was expected — the regional war everyone had been fearing was finally at everyone’s doorstep. But what was particularly impressive, if not surprising, was how those same Western countries immediately fell back on their traditional unconditional support for Israel. ….more
