Gaza, after three years genocide denial persists but is shifting shape

JVL Introduction

Martin Shaw writes about the genocide, why it took so long for the term to be – largely – accepted despite the clearly expressed genocidal intentions of Israel’s leaders within hours of the attack and also how genocide denial continues despite the clear evidence and how the ways of denial are changing.

On 7th October 2023, we published this article with direct messages from Gaza over a 15 month period.  It provides some idea of what it is like being under the bombs, in this case in Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip;  also please note that Israel’s ferocious bombardment started within 12 hours of the Hamas led break out and attack. This, for example is a message from  07/10/2023 t, 16:07 (UK time 18.07 in Gaza) “We are in great danger. Hundreds of women and children were martyred. I cannot describe the scene here. It is disastrous for the neighbours and many people have been killed in my village. We are in great danger. This may be my last message to you. The situation is very terrible. I could be killed at any moment. “ The next morning this: ” The situation is very dangerous here. Thousands of martyrs and wounded. The scene is very painful here. I lost my friends due to air strikes by warplanes. Dozens of child martyrs.”

Then at 19.19 (UK time) on 9th October:  “… The situation is very catastrophic here. Israel is using a policy of genocide against innocent people, children and women in Gaza. I cannot describe the scene here. It is truly crying and painful for the thousands of victims of innocent civilians, children and women in Gaza. Israeli warplanes are bombing Gaza randomly and are bombing everywhere.” (my emph)  He and his immediate family have been displaced countless times and are about to spend their second winter in a tent; many of their extended family members have been killed. This is from a young man who was 31 when this round of bombardment started.

Meanwhile, even now when the word genocide is used BBC (and other outlets) insist that this is met with at least a reminder that Israel denies that it is committing genocide.  Most scholars and human rights organisations agree but, as Shaw explains here, a new approach to denial is in full swing where, for example, some acts are admitted but “explained away” how the Burnham government is still denying genocide.

Martin Shaw spoke on this issue at the Webinar organised by JVL’s Education team on Sunday October 4th.  You can watch the video of that here

This article was originally published by History / theory / politics Substack on Wed 7 Oct 2026. Read the original here.