Words can kill! The comments by various world leaders expressing their condemnation of the Hamas attack without acknowledging the root cause of the problem were taken as a green light by Israel to unleash the largest bombing of a civilian population in recent history. 

Dehumanizing language is fueling racism and hate, as we saw recently in the gruesome killing of a six-year-old child in Illinois, USA. 

The quotes that follow reveal the disconcerting use of language by political figures and media personalities, which is promoting violence against Palestinians and Muslims.

"We are in a religious war here. I’m with Israel. Do whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourself. Level the place." - Senator Lindsey Graham, United States.

"Much of Muslim culture is in the grip of a death cult that sacralizes bloodshed." - Jake Wallis Simons, Editor of the Jewish Chronicle (deleted tweet)

"It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. This rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved, it’s absolutely not true. They could’ve risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime." - Isaac Herzog, Israel’s President.

"Right now, one goal: Nakba! A Nakba that will overshadow the Nakba of 1948." - Ariel Kallner, Member of the Israeli Parliament

“You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism.” - The Israel Defense Forces post.

“Anyone that is pro-Palestinian is pro-Hamas,” - Tweet by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.

“We are fighting against human animals."  - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav

Other Israeli political, military, and religious leaders have at different times described Palestinians as 'a cancer' 'vermin' and called for them to be 'annihilated.'

“As the world gapes in horror at the atrocities committed against the people of Israel malignant clots of the perpetually disgruntled appear, like cockroaches.” (Referring to pro-Palestinian protestors on US College Campuses) Kerry Dougherty, An ex-reporter at The Virginian-Pilot and The Washington Post.

Using insect imagery similar to “textbook Nazi propaganda,” various social media accounts linked to Israeli proxies are posting caricatures of Palestinians shown as cockroaches.