The sadistic selfie: When occupation turns suffering into spectacle

A photograph is often described as a neutral record of reality. Yet, within the context of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, a particular genre of imagery has emerged that is anything but neutral. Over the past two decades, a disturbing visual record has taken shape, not compiled by investigators or journalists, but by those in uniform themselves. From early digital images in the late 2000s to more recent high-resolution smartphone uploads, a pattern persists: Israeli soldiers posing beside Palestinian detainees, often women, who are blindfolded, restrained and rendered voiceless. The recurrence of such images raises questions that go far beyond individual conduct. This is not easily dismissed as a series of isolated incidents. Rather, it points to a deeper culture […]