When “occupation” and “Nakba” are regarded as something to celebrate, the articulation of mourning or resistance is being eroded. What is being dispossessed alongside lands and histories is the language of oppression itself.

Now, Israeli settlers and Jewish supremacist groups are outspoken about occupation and ethnic cleansing. Using such terms time and time again on social media and public platforms. Whereas just a couple of months ago such words would be denied, those are now being coopted.

But more so, extreme violence creates a semantic shock doctrine. Words that have become so contested, overused and washed over, that their actual meaning has been robbed. Because when violence becomes undeniable, the sole option fascists are left with is to celebrate it.

When Israeli settlements will be erected there at some point later, those will depend on resources from the outside to sustain themselves. Israeli settlers are moochers dependent on a globalised market. Hardly the image of colonial pioneers with an incentive to increase the gross domestic product.

Likewise, Gaza is no longer a viable source for colonial extraction. Israel used white phosphorus bombs that poisoned almost all its water sources, and about three quarters of all its agricultural lands suffered damage or were made unusable.

Right now, Israel invaded the Syrian Golan for the sake of securitizing the Golan Heights– another Syrian area it has occupied for the past few decades.

Like the snake eating its own tail, further occupation justifies former occupation and vice versa.

But imperialism is a different beast. Land in the imperial logic is not a tool, but a violent fetish. Just something worth latching onto for the sake of latching onto it.

Colonialism uses dispossessed territories for purposes of economic exploitation. Without promises of growth in revenues, there is no purpose from the side of the coloniser to retain colonies, as colonialism is first and foremost an economic project.

But more so, extreme violence creates a semantic shock doctrine. Words that have become so contested, overused and washed over, that their actual meaning has been robbed. Because when violence becomes undeniable, the sole option fascists are left with is to celebrate it.

Likewise, Gaza is no longer a viable source for colonial extraction. Israel used white phosphorus bombs that poisoned almost all its water sources, and about three quarters of all its agricultural lands suffered damage or were made unusable.

Right now, Israel invaded the Syrian Golan for the sake of securitizing the Golan Heights– another Syrian area it has occupied for the past few decades.

Like the snake eating its own tail, further occupation justifies former occupation and vice versa.

But imperialism is a different beast. Land in the imperial logic is not a tool, but a violent fetish. Just something worth latching onto for the sake of latching onto it.

Colonialism uses dispossessed territories for purposes of economic exploitation. Without promises of growth in revenues, there is no longer a purpose from the side of the coloniser to retain their colonies, as colonialism is first and foremost an economic project.