Is Israeli far-right using the Holocaust specifically as a tool to "exterminate" Palestinians?

 

As of May 2026, there is no verified evidence or official consensus that the Israeli far-right is using the Holocaust specifically as a tool to "exterminate" Palestinians. However, the role of Holocaust memory in the ongoing conflict is a subject of intense debate, with critics and scholars alleging that the far-right "weaponizes" historical trauma to justify extreme military actions and policies.

 

Rhetoric and Use of Holocaust Analogies

• "Hamas as the New Nazis": Israeli leaders and far-right figures have frequently compared Hamas to Nazis, particularly after the October 7, 2023 attacks. Critics argue this framing "Nazifies" not just Hamas but Palestinians generally, creating a narrative that since "you don't talk with Nazis, you kill Nazis," extreme force is the only solution.
• Justification of "Total War": Some scholars, such as Omer Bartov, suggest that invoking the Holocaust serves a political purpose by embedding the idea that Israel’s survival is constantly at stake, thereby justifying the "complete destruction" of Gaza as a defensive necessity.
• Far-Right Extremist Agendas: Within the ruling coalition, far-right ministers like Bezalel Smotrich have pushed for the "demolition" of Gaza to be followed by annexation and Jewish settlement. While they often frame these as security or religious mandates, critics view these agendas as forms of ethnic cleansing.

Allegations of Genocide

• Expert Perspectives: Several prominent Holocaust and genocide scholars, including Israeli citizen Raz Segal, have unequivocally stated that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. They point to the "systematic destruction" of infrastructure (hospitals, schools, mosques) and the use of starvation as evidence of an intent to make Gaza uninhabitable.
• Legal Challenges: International bodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have recognized the risk of genocide, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for top Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Netanyahu—for war crimes such as using starvation as a weapon.

Counter-Arguments and Denials

• Historical Distortion: Groups like the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the ADL argue that comparing Israel to the Nazi regime is a "cynical and unfounded" distortion of history. They maintain the Holocaust was a systematic attempt at total annihilation, whereas the current conflict is territorial and political.
• Legitimate Defense: Supporters of the current military strategy argue that Israel's actions are legitimate acts of self-defense against a group that seeks its own destruction, rather than a plan for extermination. They highlight Israeli efforts to relocate civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid as evidence of a lack of genocidal intent.