A newly published book by an Israeli researcher has documented statements by influential rabbis associated with religious Zionism openly advocating the mass killing and extermination of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including women, children and infants.
The book, A Time of Miracles: The Response of Hardal Rabbis to October 7, was written by Israeli researcher Dror Greenblum, who specialises in the religious Zionist movement and its ideological currents.
Greenblum examined sermons, religious lessons, articles and public statements delivered by prominent rabbis following 7 October 2023, documenting their support for the mass killing of Palestinians during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The findings reveal how religious teachings and biblical interpretations have been invoked by certain influential religious Zionist figures to justify violence against Palestinian civilians, reject humanitarian protections and portray the destruction of Gaza as a religiously sanctioned objective.
Rabbis’ Statements Calling for Extermination
Among the statements documented in the book are explicit calls for the destruction of Gaza and the killing of its Palestinian population.
Rabbi Noam Feder was quoted as declaring:
“Exterminate them completely.”
Rabbi Tamir Elmaleh described mass destruction in religiously celebratory terms:
“Extermination, occupation and crushing: this is greatness and exaltation.”
Rabbi Uri Sherki rejected distinctions between civilians and combatants, stating:
“Everyone is considered an enemy. There are no innocents.”
Rabbi Yosef Kellner went further, envisioning the complete destruction of Gaza:
“Gaza is supposed to become a national park after the air force levels it to the ground.”
Other rabbis similarly used religious and moral arguments to justify violence against the Palestinian population.
Rabbi Eliyahu Zini described humanitarian measures as “moral decay” and called for the extermination of those described as innocent, dismissing that designation as false.
Rabbi Avraham Wasserman called for “revenge against the nations and the burning of Gaza before soldiers enter”.
Rabbi Eli Sadan argued against distinguishing between Palestinians in Gaza, declaring:
“You are fighting an entire people.”
One of the most explicit statements came from Rabbi Eliyahu Mali, who called on the Israeli military to kill everyone in Gaza, including infant children.
The statements documented by Greenblum illustrate the extent to which some religious figures have sought to erase the distinction between civilians and combatants, using theological arguments to legitimise violence against an entire population.
Religious Authorities Call for Disregarding the Rules of War
Beyond individual sermons and public statements, the book also documents a collective declaration issued by prominent religious Zionist rabbis.
The signatories included Dov Lior, Elyakim Levanon, David Hai HaCohen, Eliyahu Zini, Shmuel Eliyahu and David Bendel, alongside other influential figures within the movement.
The declaration explicitly called for disregarding the rules of warfare concerning civilian populations.
According to the passages reproduced in the book, the rabbis declared:
“The enemy’s civilian population should not be taken into consideration … I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until I destroy them, until I destroy them.”
The statement drew upon biblical and Talmudic language to provide religious justification for targeting Palestinians.
The use of such texts is particularly consequential because the individuals involved are not merely commentators on Israeli politics. They are religious authorities whose teachings influence communities, educational institutions and sections of the Israeli military.
Their statements demonstrate how interpretations of religious scripture have been used by elements of the religious Zionist movement to challenge established protections for civilians during armed conflict.
Religious Zionism’s Growing Influence Within the Israeli Army
The significance of these declarations extends beyond the personal positions of individual rabbis.
Religious Zionist currents have established a substantial presence among Israeli military recruits, while studies conducted over recent years have documented the advancement of members of these movements into senior military positions.
Their political influence has also expanded as parties associated with religious Zionism have entered government and gained control over ministries and other state institutions.
This growing institutional presence has raised concerns about the relationship between extremist religious doctrines and Israeli military and government policies towards Palestinians.
During Israel’s war on Gaza, videos circulated showing Israeli soldiers invoking biblical expressions and statements attributed to rabbis while endorsing the killing of Palestinians, including women and children.
Other recorded statements have sought to justify acts of sexual violence and looting through religious language.
These incidents illustrate the transmission of extremist religious rhetoric from ideological circles into sections of the military, where soldiers have publicly invoked such beliefs during the campaign in Gaza.
The statements documented in Greenblum’s book therefore provide insight into the religious narratives circulating within parts of the broader political and military environment in which the war has been conducted.
Israeli Documentary Reveals Soldiers’ Testimonies of War Crimes
The publication comes alongside further disclosures concerning the conduct of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
In recent days, an Israeli-produced documentary titled Naza has provoked anger within Israel after presenting testimonies from Israeli soldiers and officers describing acts of genocide and war crimes committed during the military campaign in Gaza.
The film, produced by Israeli filmmakers, draws upon accounts from military personnel themselves, adding to the documented statements and evidence concerning the treatment of Palestinian civilians.
Together, the documentary and Greenblum’s research expose different dimensions of the violence in Gaza: the conduct described by soldiers who participated in military operations and the religious rhetoric used by influential rabbis to justify the destruction of Palestinian lives.
The book’s documentation is particularly notable for identifying religious authorities who publicly advocated extermination, including the killing of infants, while presenting such violence as compatible with their interpretation of religious and moral obligations.
