Kathmandu— Following the events of October 7th, 2023, some within the Israeli government have openly pursued policies of dispossession and annihilation towards Palestinians, fueled by decades of cultivated societal attitudes and backed by international support. This shift has been characterized by a reliance on segregation, fearmongering, and material rewards for aggression, creating a climate where violence is normalized and even celebrated. A recent example of this dynamic emerged with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s proposal to construct a moat filled with Nile crocodiles around Ketziot prison to guard Palestinian prisoners.

The Logic of Dispossession

Support for the dispossession of Palestinians, the article argues, is rooted in a system that cultivates division and rewards aggression. This involves creating an “in-and-out” group dynamic, utilizing propaganda and fearmongering, and offering material gains – such as land and elevated social status – to those who participate in acts of aggression. This manipulation aims to condition societies to accept genocide as normal, framing it as righteous behavior driven by a neurological predisposition towards acquisition.

Crocodiles as Political Symbolism

Ben Gvir’s proposal for a crocodile-filled moat, likened to Donald Trump's abandoned “Alligator Alcatraz” idea, is not dismissed as mere satire. The National Security Ministry has already budgeted approximately $7 million for the project, including provisions for long-term reptile maintenance. While the plan is currently on hold—not due to concern for Palestinian prisoners, but rather for the welfare of the crocodiles themselves—it serves as a stark illustration of how systems of domination function.

Appealing to Primitive Impulses

The proposal functions as political theatre designed to reward primitive impulses associated with the brain’s emotional/limbic system. Ben Gvir appeals to those for whom humiliating and abusing perceived inferiors provides a psychological boost, reinforcing a sense of superiority. The conscription of crocodiles also serves as a spectacle aimed at garnering votes, providing a dopamine rush to an Israeli public conditioned to celebrate cruelty as virtue. Within this environment, Ben Gvir is positioned to ascend the political hierarchy.

Historical Roots of Dehumanization

The article draws on the work of Frantz Fanon and Richard H. Smith to explain the dynamics at play. Fanon analyzed how colonialism dehumanizes both oppressor and oppressed, while Smith details how perpetrators often seek payback for past mistreatment. In Israeli society, this is compounded by a conflation of Zionism and Judaism, drawing on historical experiences like the Holocaust and decontextualizing Palestinian resistance. The author argues that schadenfreude—pleasure derived from another’s misery—serves as a reward for aggression, evidenced by instances of Israeli soldiers displaying gleeful sadism and sharing photos of bound Palestinians online.

The article concludes that nearly three years of escalating actions have eroded empathy towards Palestinians, replacing it with dehumanization and cruelty. The authors suggest that this conditioning can be undone through restructuring social hierarchies to prioritize empathy, solidarity, and co-resistance—a central argument explored in their forthcoming book.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.