Israel’s endgame: the “mass depopulation” of Gaza

In most of the U.S media, there is only one acceptable viewpoint: to stand 100 percent with Israel’s far-right government. I co-founded The Intercept to ensure there would always be a home for dissenting voices in times of war, to guarantee that those who resist oppression and the mass murder of civilians are not silenced.




After the October 7 Hamas raid that killed 1,400 Israelis, President Joe Biden described the attack as “like fifteen 9/11s” in proportion to Israel’s population.

If Biden applied the same logic to the number of Palestinians killed by Israel since this war began, that would be more than 400 September 11s, with no end to the killing in sight.

But when he was asked about the 8,000 Palestinians killed — thousands of them children and the vast majority civilians — Biden simply said he doesn’t believe that those numbers are real.

This open disregard for the value of Palestinian lives is shameful.

Yet in most of the U.S. media, there is only one acceptable viewpoint: to stand 100 percent with Israel’s far-right government. Those who dare to criticize Israel’s attacks risk severe sanction, including the loss of employment or worse.

I co-founded The Intercept as a nonprofit news source to ensure there would always be a home for dissenting voices in times of war, to guarantee that those who resist oppression and the mass murder of civilians are not silenced.

That mission has never been more important than it is right now, so I’m asking you to please help support The Intercept by making a donation.

Already half the population of Gaza — at least 1.5 million people — have been forced to flee. As the Palestinian–Israeli citizen and political analyst Yousef Munayyer told me, Israel’s endgame is the “mass depopulation” of Gaza.

I wish I could say it’s shocking, but knowing this history, it’s not shocking at all.

In addition, no one who has paid attention to Biden’s political career and his position on Israel has been shocked at his full-throated support for Israel's action in Gaza.

I’ve closely watched Biden for decades, and following his election in 2020, The Intercept conducted a deep-dive, multipart investigation into Biden’s foreign policy record. That reporting revealed a man best described as an “empire politician,” someone who believes that questions of war don’t really matter on a moral level, but only how they affect America’s own power and prestige.

On Israel, Biden has earned a reputation as “Israel’s man in Washington” going back to his earliest days in the Senate in 1973. At times, even some Israeli officials have been shocked at how radical his positions were, including on the killing of civilians in Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.

That’s what we’re seeing on full display today. Unquestioning support for Israel, and little if any concern for the moral ramifications of military conflict. It is the everyday people of Gaza who will continue to suffer most under this regime.

This is the kind of deep reporting and context that is desperately needed right now. But you simply won’t see it elsewhere in the U.S. news media. That’s why, now more than ever, we’re asking readers to support the unflinching, dogged reporting of The Intercept. Will you chip in $5?

Yes, I’ll donate $5.

STAND WITH THE INTERCEPT →

Thank you,

Jeremy Scahill
Co-founder

The Intercept’s fiscal sponsor is First Look Institute, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax ID number 80-0951255).

The Intercept’s mailing address is:
P.O. Box 27442
Washington, DC 20038

The Intercept is an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. Our in-depth investigations and unflinching analysis focus on surveillance, war, corruption, the environment, technology, criminal justice, the media and more. Email is an important way for us to communicate with The Intercept’s readers, but if you’d like to stop hearing from us, click here to unsubscribe from all communications. Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Contribute now to support our independent journalism.

Older messages

Doubts About the War Are Beginning to Creep In at the Highest Levels

Friday, November 3, 2023

We're at the phase of the Israel–Palestine war when people start worrying about how they will look when this is over. Doubts About the War Are Beginning to Creep In at the Highest Levels If

Unproven “Advanced Recycling” Facilities Have Received Millions in Public Subsidies

Thursday, November 2, 2023

The petrochemical industry is lobbying for “advanced recycling” as a solution to plastic pollution, but a new report reveals a troubling track record at US facilities. Most Read Biden's Conspiracy

8,000 Palestinians killed. The U.S. is helping pay for it.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Israel has blockaded food, water, and medicine in Gaza. Hospitals don't have electricity. Internet and phones are blacked out. Experts in international law say these are war crimes. Yet in far too

U.S. Quietly Expands Secret Military Base in Israel

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Government documents pointing to construction at a classified US base offer rare hints about a little noted US military presence near Gaza. Most Read Bed Bath & Beyond Scion Pressured Artists to

Israel is cutting off food, water, and medicine while bombing Gaza

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Israel's scorched-earth bombing campaign in Gaza won't stop as long as the US keeps funding it. Instead, Joe Biden is casting doubt on the Palestinian death toll and asking for billions more in

You Might Also Like

AI chatbots keep failing every accuracy test thrown at them

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

PLUS: Why Substack's new subscriber milestone is so significant ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Everything We’ve Written About That’s on Sale at Nordstrom

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Plus: Actually cute plus-size maternity clothes. The Strategist Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

What A Day: Bad Car-ma

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Elon Musk's politics are sparking a major Tesla backlash, ironically thanks to Trump. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Rohingya refugees just lost half of their food aid. Now what?

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

An interview with Free Rohingya Coalition what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas Hey, this is Sham Jaff, a freelance journalist focused on Asia, Africa and the Americas and your very

Shayne Coplan’s Big Bet Is Paying Off

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025 THE MONEY GAME Shayne Coplan's Big Bet Is Paying Off By Jen Wieczner Photo: Dina Litovsky At 6 am on Wednesday, November 13, eight FBI agents in black windbreakers burst through the

We need your input.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Share your insights & receive a 70% off forever. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

We Talkin’ About Practice?

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Seattle startup takes eco-friendly aim at recycling clothing 

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Read AI rolls out enterprise search tool | Hard time for hardware ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: A limited number of table sponsorships are available at the 2025 GeekWire Awards: Secure your

☕ The beauty of it all

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

A conversation with Ulta Beauty's CMO. March 11, 2025 View Online | Sign Up Marketing Brew Presented By Iterable It's Tuesday. Count Kathy Hochul as an ad buyer. The governor of New York is

🤔 What’s in your wallet? A scam.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Plus, a new streaming deal is the latest gift to Trump from the billionaire CEO and his company — which profits off government contracts. Forward this email to others so they can sign up 🔥 Today on