In a strategic move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invoked ancient religious texts to legitimize preemptive warfare and sidestep international law. At a Jewish conference in June 2024, Netanyahu referenced a Hebrew phrase from an ancient text, suggesting that Israel should strike first in its security doctrine, harking back to the country's strategy during the 1967 war with Arab neighbors. This religious rhetoric has been employed by other Israeli leaders and commanders as well, often serving to dehumanize Palestinians and dictate military actions. For instance, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Palestinians as "human animals" during a siege on Gaza. Jewish religious figures have also issued edicts to the military, with one rabbi warning soldiers against dismantling illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, likening it to eating pork. The Israeli government has allocated substantial funds to further entrench the occupation of the West Bank, where an increase in violence against Palestinians has been reported over the past two years. This religious framing of the conflict transforms complex geopolitical issues into a moral drama, as noted by Ibrahim Abusharif, an associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar. The actions of figures like Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, who has demolished homes in Gaza and southern Lebanon, have sparked war crimes complaints against him, with the Hind Rajab Foundation filing a complaint at the International Criminal Court. Despite Netanyahu's use of religious rhetoric being more prevalent in recent years, Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, used even more biblical and rabbinic references during his wartime speeches. This trend continues today, with far-right politicians like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich believing that settlers are biblically entitled to the occupied West Bank.