Gideon Levy, a Tel Aviv-born Israeli journalist born in 1953 and a descendant of Holocaust survivors, stands as a polarizing figure for those who follow the ongoing Middle East conflict. To many within Israel he remains controversial, while abroad he is often seen as part of the moral conscience of the country’s intellectual scene, sometimes requiring a protective escort. For decades he has criticized Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, making the occupied territories a frequent focus of his reporting for Haaretz, an approach that set him apart from many Hebrew-language peers who rarely ventured into those areas in the past.
A speech Levy delivered in 2015 gained viral traction on social media in the days after Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives, followed by a deadly retaliation in Gaza that resulted in a heavy Palestinian death toll. In his book, Levy argues that Israeli society has become numb to Palestinian suffering. He points to three forces: first, a systemic dehumanization of Palestinians that stains almost every Israeli; second, a sense among many Israelis that they belong to a “chosen people”; and third, a pervasive sense of victimhood, whereby Israelis perceive themselves as the sole stewards of history while also casting themselves as victims.
Levy spoke with an interviewer via video call from his Tel Aviv home.
Do you know when a speech of yours went “viral”?
This morning they confirmed it to me.
In that speech, you described how Israeli society has isolated itself from Palestinian suffering. It was in 2015. Has your view shifted after the Hamas attacks on October 7?
In that sense, nothing has changed. Look at how the war is covered on Israeli television and in the press. Gaza’s suffering hardly registers. Coverage emphasizes Israeli casualties, military successes, and civilian hardship in the south, but the pain in Gaza is largely unseen. Nothing more.
Why is that?
Because this is how people try to live with themselves in peace. The pattern is consistent. The media do not yield to government pressure alone, nor is press freedom at stake here; rather, it’s driven by commercial choices: audiences avoid content that might disturb them. That choice shapes public opinion just as surely as any official policy.
“There’s a systematic dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society, where they think they’re not human and that it’s not a human rights issue. If you scratch the skin of almost any Israeli, you’ll see that.”
Gideon Levy, anti-Zionist Jewish journalist. pic.twitter.com/D5z91yoUzI
— Daniel Mayakovski (@DaniMayakovski) 3 November 2023
The Haaretz newsroom has not centered the topic either. In Spain, for example, footage of bombings, injured or dead Palestinian children, and other raw images are more commonplace. Here you can see similar material.
The phenomenon is more visible in Haaretz than elsewhere, though it may not be as pronounced as in Spain. An additional factor to remember: for the last sixteen years no Israeli journalist has been allowed to enter Gaza.
A recent Israel Democracy Institute poll shows only 2% of Israelis believe the military used excessive force in Gaza. Do you think society fully supports the war? How are you perceived by friends, colleagues, or family?
I wrote in a piece today that this is Israel’s first unanimous war, with little opposition either in parliament or on the streets. Support is widespread, even among left-leaning friends and family who have long been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. They sense something shifted on October 7.
Do you support the way the war is being conducted?
Not at all. It is an out-of-control conflict with no clear end in sight. The goals seem unreachable, and the conduct feels disproportionately severe. Tens of thousands have died; Israel has no right to do so for any reason. Millions have been displaced. Whose state claims the right to such actions?
Are you aware of the diplomatic fallout that followed the president’s remarks? For example, the Spanish ambassador’s consultations in response to statements from Madrid?
Yes, I know that.
What is your take?
We must stop treating words as mere rhetoric. If pressure on Israel is desired, it must translate into action. Despite comments like that, Israel continues to live in relative calm. Some label it antisemitism and avoid blaming Israel. The only way to alter policy is through action—sanctions, for instance—rather than mere condemnation, especially when diplomacy is blocked.
Joe Biden has said that some bombings were indiscriminate. What’s your take on that?
The day he vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the Security Council mattered. If leaders don’t act, the rest of the world should take note. It’s not enough to talk; there must be concrete steps.
How do you expect Israel to respond after October 7?
Levy says he cannot be indifferent. Israel had the right to act against Hamas after such a barbaric attack, but there must be limits. No country can kill tens of thousands of people or deport millions with impunity. Hamas can be struck but not eradicated. West Bank polling suggests Hamas gains in influence there, while Palestinian Authority support remains low.
There are videos online showing Israelis mocking Palestinian suffering, and a Telegram account linked to the Army reportedly circulating graphic footage. What is happening inside Israeli society?
Years of brainwashing and demonization have taken root. It’s a minority view that gains visibility because some government ministers echo it. The war has legitimated that stance. Many people now see Palestinians as enemies rather than humans, which is profoundly troubling.
Do you have friends you could have spoken with during the war?
Yes, but since the war began I have avoided trying to reconnect; fear for their safety makes it too painful. Levy has been traveling weekly to the West Bank for 35 years, just as he did to Gaza before the blockade intensified.
How do you view the West Bank today?
A recent poll shows Hamas support rising to 70 percent in the West Bank, while support for the Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas sits around 7 percent. The idea of the Palestinian Authority taking control of Gaza seems untenable under these dynamics.
Is there any glimmer of hope?
Hope depends on serious international engagement. There are signs, but elections in the United States next year may shift priorities. If a new era begins under a different leadership, the game could change—but there is no easy path. There is no partner for peace on either side worth trusting right now.
How might events unfold if a new administration comes to power in the United States?
Prediction is perilous. A future with Trump would be chaotic. He touched on the Abraham Accords but did little to address the core conflict. The presence of around 700,000 settlers in the West Bank complicates any path toward a two-state solution. Evacuations seem unlikely, and without major concessions, the prospect of a Palestinian state remains distant. There appears to be little international appetite for bold measures without a clear partner for peace on the ground, in either Israel or Palestine.
Germany, Levy’s ancestral country, has signaled support for Israel. What role might Germany play?
Germany carries historical responsibility toward the Palestinians due to the Holocaust, and that shapes its stance. Yet it cannot lead alone. Other nations—such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain—have more influence and could take the lead. It remains a shared international duty to help move toward accountability and peace.