Calls for the destruction of Israel
There have been explicit or implicit expressions, statements, and rhetoric made by individuals, political entities, and factions within Arab, Islamic, Palestinian or left-wing[1][2][3] discourse advocating for the elimination of the State of Israel as a political entity. These anti-Zionist calls often involve the use of strong language, genocidal threats,[4][5] or declarations aiming at the complete eradication of Israel. Such expressions may be manifested in official statements, speeches, charters, or public discourse, reflecting a position that denies the legitimacy of Israel's existence and seeks its destruction through various means, including military or other forms of political and ideological action.[6][5]
The history of calls for the destruction of Israel is rooted in the prelude to its establishment. Leaders such as Azzam Pasha of the Arab League warned of a "war of extermination" in the event that a Jewish state was established, although the interpretation of this quotation is disputed. Prior to the 1967 Six Day War, there was a nearly unanimous consensus among Arab nations aimed at the obliteration of Israel.[7] Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser reiterated calls for the annulment of Israel's existence in the lead-up to the war.
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has called for the Israeli state to be abolished and replaced with a single state that gives equal voting rights to Muslims, Christians and Jews.[8][9] Khamenei has stressed the removal of Israel does not mean the removal of Jewish people.[10] Islamist Palestinian organizations like Hamas[11] and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad[11] consistently promote the goal of Israel's elimination, as evidenced by their charters, statements, and actions, such as the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[12] Instances of media and propaganda within Palestinian discourse also contribute to expressions advocating for the destruction of Israel. The political slogan "From the river to the sea"[13] has been linked to demands for a Palestinian state and the removal of a majority of its Jewish population, with ongoing debates about its implications and potential classification as antisemitic or hate speech.[14][15][16]