In the 1940s, thousands of protesters gathered in a town under colonial rule, raising national flags and placards to demand self-determination. The authorities attempted to confiscate the flags, leading to a riot that resulted in the deaths of several officers and settlers. In response, the colonial forces bombed villages and homes where they believed “rebels” were hiding, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the destruction of entire families. This incident occurred in Setif, Algeria, under French rule, not in Palestine.
Historian Muriam Hala Davis highlighted the hypocrisy of Europe celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany while maintaining settler colonies like Algeria. She drew parallels between France’s colonization of Algeria and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands. Both involved displacement, confinement, and violence against the native populations.
The violent tactics used by Israel in Gaza have been compared to France’s actions against the National Liberation Front in Algeria. Both nations attempted to separate and isolate civilian populations into “safe zones” to control and surveil them. The branding of enemies as morally depraved, including accusations of mass rape, has been used to justify these actions in both conflicts.
Critics argue that Israel’s legal system is designed to legitimize its settlements and occupation, rather than seek justice for human rights abuses against Palestinians. Palestinians face a conviction rate of 99 percent in military courts and are often held without charge or trial under administrative detention. The ultimate goal, according to experts, is the erasure of the Palestinian people.
Both Israel and France have entertained the belief that they could oversee a project of “good colonization,” offering limited rights or sovereignty to the native populations. However, scholars warn that this is a facade, masking a structural project of white supremacy and oppression.