Moral abdication

Didier Fassin

A story of how Western governments and elites contributed to the destruction of Gaza and silenced voices advocating for Palestinian rights.

Didier Fassin, drawing on a wide range of international sources, presents an account of the first six months of the war waged by the Israeli army after the attacks of October 7, 2023. The author shows how most Western governments not only condoned the destruction of Gaza – its homes, hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and civilian population – but often actively contributed to it.

To justify their stance and critical voices, the author adopted the official version of events based on the Israeli narrative. Mainstream media largely replicated it, omitting the Palestinian perspective and experiences. Voices of dissent began to be suppressed, imposing control over language and thought. Censorship and self-censorship became commonplace, and a call for a ceasefire or a reminder of humanitarian law was enough to be accused of antisemitism.

Fassin examines the dramatically unequal way in which the value of life on both sides of the conflict is treated by the media, and the complex geopolitical, economic, and ideological conditions that sustain such an approach. In his view, this collective moral capitulation of the West, consisting of rejecting the principles considered to be the foundations of civilization, will leave a lasting mark on human history.

The Polish edition includes an afterword by Przemysław Wielgosz.

The above description comes from the publisher.

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