The Destruction of Palestine Is the Destruction of the Earth

Malm uncovers the deep connections between colonialism in Palestine and the reliance on fossil fuels for warfare.

The ongoing destruction of Gaza by Israel since October 7, 2023, is not only a humanitarian tragedy, but also an environmental disaster. This latest wave of violence marks just another chapter in a long history of colonization and resource extraction that dates back to the 19th century. In this urgent pamphlet, Andreas Malm argues that to fully grasp the present crisis, we must examine Palestine’s subjugation to fossil fuel empires over the long term. Malm traces the origins of Britain’s use of steam power in warfare, starting with the devastation of the Palestinian city of Akka. He highlights how the persistence of fossil fuel dependency continues to fuel Western support for the ongoing destruction of Palestine today.