The World has changed “after” Gaza

JVL Introduction

Gaza has changed so much and unless we resist we may be heading deeper into a dystopian (near) future.  This important piece looks at how the world has changed as a result of the pulverisation of Gaza and the near impunity for Israel; how acceptance and tolerance or ignoring or denying or justifying the horrors in Gaza has enabled the attacks (“Gazafication”) of Lebanon and the illegal attacks by the USA and Israel into Iran and further incursions into Syria as well as the effective annexation of the West Bank achieved with the utmost cruelty.

Daniel Lawson looks mostly at psychological as well as political issue, how many ordinary people come to accept what was previously unthinkable. Politically, there is considerable focus on the USA and its creeping fascism but this is highly relevant for us all as in the UK, France, Germany and Australia are just some examples where there is clampdown on the right to protest, usually starting with protesting the situation in Palestine. More broadly how we are in danger of moving further into a technocratic dystopia where the only thing that counts is “might” and human life is beyond cheap.

He considers how language is being openly policed by news outlets and, of course, governments that try to ban expressions such as “Globalise the Intifada” and “from the river to the sea” – all ostensibly in the name of fighting antisemitism. We note how interviewers always remind interviewees that the term “genocide” is not accepted by Israel (!). He describes the use of victimhood by the perpetrators of violenc and  reminds us of the importance of  resistance and how vital it is not to give in to despair. That the actions and philosophies we oppose are not winning; hope is realistic, despair is destructive.

LL

This article was originally published by Substack on Mon 23 Mar 2026. Read the original here.