Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently intensified his rhetoric, notably emphasizing a shift in Israel’s security doctrine rooted in a deliberate invocation of ancient Jewish texts, particularly the Hebrew phrase ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise and kill him first’. This shift, detailed in numerous statements and strategic documents, reflects a growing reliance on biblical and religious concepts to justify military action and define Israel’s identity.
Beginning in June 2024, during International Court of Justice hearings, South African lawyer Tembeka Ngukaitobi highlighted Netanyahu’s command to Israeli troops at the start of the Gaza war to ‘remember what Amalek has done to you.’ This reference, she explained, draws upon the biblical command by God to Saul for the retaliatory destruction of an entire group of people, referencing the story of Saul and his rebellion.
This deliberate utilization of biblical imagery represents a significant evolution in Netanyahu’s approach to security. Traditional military strategy has generally avoided directly referencing Israel’s conflicts as existential holy wars, likely due to concerns about attracting global condemnation. However, this shift is increasingly intertwined with a broader ideological framework emphasizing divine retribution and the protection of Israel’s perceived covenant with God.
During the 2025 Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) study, a Jewish religious figure, Avraham Shapira, warned that this rhetoric is indicative of genocidal intent in Gaza, where over 73,400 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Other experts argue that the war constitutes a genocide, further reinforcing the narrative of Israeli military actions as acts of violence against Palestinians.
Furthermore, Netanyahu has repeatedly used similar language to demonize Palestinians and dictate military actions, drawing parallels to biblical narratives and historical events. This rhetoric has manifested concretely on the front lines, with figures like Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, an army reservist and rabbinical judge, demolishing homes in Gaza and southern Lebanon, demonstrating a consistent pattern of violence against Palestinians.
In January 2026, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights UK filed a formal request for the United Kingdom to impose targeted financial and travel sanctions on Netanyahu due to this comment. The political landscape reflects a broader trend where Israeli leaders and commanders increasingly employ biblical imagery and historical narratives to justify military actions and portray Palestinians as enemies.
The government has recently allocated unprecedented funds to bolster the occupation of the West Bank, with approximately 700,000 settlers now residing there. This allocation, combined with escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, underscores the ongoing conflict and the Israeli government’s continued commitment to the occupation.
This context is further bolstered by the recent declaration by the Hind Rajab Foundation that casting the conflict through biblical imagery transforms geopolitical complexities into a moral drama. This political rhetoric has manifested concretely on the front lines, most notably in the actions of figures like Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, an Israeli army reservist and rabbinical judge who has demolished homes in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as the deliberate destruction of Palestinian communities by the Israeli government.
The Israeli right-wing finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, among many Israeli politicians, has advocated for the biblically-entitled settlement of Judea and Samaria, a region that constitutes the geographic name of Israel.
The Israeli government has recently authorized a siege on Gaza, including power, food, and fuel, with over 3,700 attacks on Palestinians in the region. This escalates the violence against Palestinians and underscores the government’s determination to maintain control over the territory.
The Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, actually used more biblical and rabbinic references in his wartime speeches than Netanyahu has done, according to a 2025 Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) study. This shift reflects a deliberate attempt to redefine the conflict through a theological lens, creating a moral narrative that legitimizes Israeli military actions.
Experts suggest this political rhetoric sends a message that ‘genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes are the ‘spirit of the nation’.’
This is a complex and evolving situation, and ongoing analysis of the interplay between religious discourse, geopolitical strategy, and military actions is critical for understanding the dynamics of the conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera
