Gaza’s Gravediggers

JVL Introduction

As Talal Hangari makes clear at the start of his review of Norman Finkelstein’s new book Gaza’s Gravediggers, international law was transformed after the Second World War precisely in response to, and in order to avoid any recurrence of, the unspeakable atrocities of the preceding half century.

Its success inevitably depends on how active, informed, committed and effective the bodies that implement it are – which leads to Finkelstein’s subtitle: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places

He has written not a history of the genocide in Gaza, but rather a record of “the complicity—born of cupidity and corruption, cowardice and careerism—of officials in high places … Truth cannot be mangled and Justice traduced with impunity” (xxxii).

The international institutions so painstakingly constructed after WW2 have proved themselves not just impotent to prevent and punish; they have at times abetted the crime of genocide.

This article was originally published by The Examiner on Sun 16 Aug 2026. Read the original here.