London – Saba
A British writer has argued that the apparent rise in the tone of criticism toward “Israel” by some European governments is nothing more than a coordinated performance. He stated that this theatrical shift is part of a prearranged script with both “Israel” and the United States, serving as a green light for “Israel” to complete its genocidal campaign.
According to British commentator Jonathan Cook, the political and media institutions in Europe remain aligned with U.S. and Israeli narratives—even in their supposed condemnation of the massacres in Gaza.
Cook wrote in an article published by Middle East Eye that the British Prime Minister’s theatrical response does not absolve him of responsibility. He emphasized that the trail of blood in Gaza leads directly to his doorstep.
He added that despite the new, seemingly tougher rhetoric coming out of Western capitals, this shift is a repackaging of the same old lies designed to serve Western interests, just as they have for the past 19 months.
As the Israeli ethnic cleansing project in Gaza nears its “final stages,” Cook argued that the West is scrambling to rewrite the script—to manage public perception. Britain, France, and Canada, key allies of the U.S., issued synchronized condemnations of Israeli plans to destroy what remains of Gaza, calling them “disproportionate,” while ignoring months of starvation imposed on over two million Palestinians.
This shift in rhetoric was preceded, Cook pointed out, by a similar change in tone in the Western media—part of an orchestrated effort to prepare the public for a narrative pivot. Without this media groundwork, sudden expressions of moral concern by leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would appear bizarre after over a year of indifference.
Cook described this shift as part of a broader “media and policy management” effort to ensure consistency between public sentiment and political messaging. An Israeli official admitted to Haaretz that recent changes were part of a “coordinated trap” ahead of the EU meeting in Brussels, manipulated through diplomatic channels to adjust the outcomes.
“This fuss is just another performance,” Cook commented, “no different from the previous mix of silence and ‘Israel has the right to defend itself’ rhetoric. Its purpose remains the same: to buy Israel more time to finish the job—complete the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Gaza.”
Cook added that the West continues to distract the public with fake debates—such as whether Hamas steals aid, what constitutes “adequate” aid, and how it should be distributed—while the real crime of systematic extermination continues with Western backing.
With food supplies exhausted, UN official Tom Fletcher told the BBC that 14,000 children could die within 48 hours without urgent food aid. In response, Netanyahu permitted the bare minimum of humanitarian aid—less than one-fifth of what Gaza needs. None reached the civilians. Netanyahu, addressing the Israeli public—which largely supports Gaza’s starvation—admitted this was done not out of humanitarian concern but as a PR move to placate allies in Congress who can’t justify images of mass starvation.
Over the past 19 months, “Israel” has systematically destroyed everything vital for Gaza’s survival—homes, hospitals, schools, universities, bakeries, water systems, and community kitchens.
A recent survey by the Dutch newspaper NRC of top global genocide experts found unanimous agreement: “Israel” is committing genocide in Gaza, and many believe it has entered its final phase.
Despite this, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy was recently seen shaking hands and smiling with Netanyahu, highlighting the duplicity of Western diplomacy. A senior European official, speaking to the BBC, noted that leaders like Macron, Starmer, and Carney now express “genuine political anger” over Israel’s excesses—but this only underscores how much previous horrors were tolerated.
Even as these leaders threaten “decisive” actions, history shows how limited such steps are. The EU, which has long hesitated to punish “Israel,” has done little beyond requiring product labeling for settlement goods—a ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2019.
No bans on settlement products or sanctions have been implemented, and proponents of boycotting “Israel” are often smeared as anti-Semitic in official circles.
Cook contends that Western leaders and mainstream media are actively deceiving the public. Even as Gaza is bombed and starved, “Israel” participates in the Eurovision Song Contest and finishes second—ignoring growing European public outrage.
He questions how serious these leaders can be if they cannot impose even symbolic penalties. If they were truly concerned, they would act against “Israel” as they did against Russia for invading Ukraine—imposing economic sanctions, export bans, and energy embargoes.
Cook highlights the UK’s hypocrisy: While Labour’s Keir Starmer pledged to reduce arms exports to “Israel” by 8%, his government sent more weapons in three months than the Conservative government did over three years. Moreover, the UK provides Israel with intelligence via surveillance flights over Gaza.
He argues that Britain could at least recognize Palestinian statehood, impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu based on the ICC’s actions, and prosecute returning British nationals who served in Gaza as war criminals. These actions are not difficult—they simply require political will.
Instead, all current efforts are mere image management, designed to preserve “Israel’s” public face. The myth of “Israel the victim” is collapsing, yet Western leaders are still dancing around the truth, trying to reshape the narrative as the genocide concludes.
Cook concludes by saying that mere condemnation will not cleanse the hands of Starmer and other Western leaders. Palestinian blood stains them, and no speech—no matter how severe—can erase their complicity.
E.
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