Understanding the Roots of Israel’s Use of Collective Punishment

Israel’s current practice of employing collective punishment against Palestinians can be traced back to the era of British rule in Palestine. During the British mandate period from 1920-1948, a repressive system was put in place that included aerial bombardments, military raids, and the imposition of military law against the Palestinian population.

The origins of these tactics can be seen during the 1936-1939 Great Arab Revolt, where Palestinians rose up against British rule due to deteriorating political and economic conditions, demanding an end to British support for Zionist colonization and the right to self-determination. In response, Britain used brutal repression tactics, leading to the deaths, injuries, imprisonment, and exile of a significant portion of the Arab population.

Following the revolt, Palestine was left vulnerable, and during the 1948 Nakba, a catastrophic event that led to the ethnic cleansing of two-thirds of the Palestinian population, Israel was established. Historians have noted how Britain’s armed suppression of Arab resistance during the revolt was instrumental in advancing the Zionist movement.

RELATED

Martial law

To suppress the revolt, Britain implemented martial law in Palestine, using tactics learned from other colonies. Emergency laws were enacted to enforce collective punishment, curfews, censorship, arbitrary arrests, and imprisonment without trial, concepts that still influence Israel’s treatment of Palestinians today.

Britain enforced collective punishment against the entire population

British authorities subjected Palestinians to detainment camps with poor conditions, including overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. This history of detention without trial continued in Israel, inherited from British practices.

RELATED