Dehumanization in Focus: A Comparison Between The Goat Life (2024) and the Palestinian Cause - Mohammed Al-Fazari

 

Recently, through Netflix, I watched the Indian film The Goat Life (2024), based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Indian author Benyamin. This film leaves a profound impact on the viewer, thanks to its powerful narrative and the deep human issues it addresses. This moved me to write this article as a parallel to another human cause that occupies my daily thoughts and the thoughts of every person, mainly every Arab—the Palestinian cause, particularly since the events of October 7.

 

The film is set in Saudi Arabia. It tells the story of Najeeb Muhammad and his companion Hakim, two migrants from Kerala who came to Saudi Arabia with dreams of a better life after securing visas through their connections. However, from the moment they arrive, they are confronted with a harsh reality they had not anticipated—a reality filled with suffering that arises when a person is treated as a tool rather than a human being.

 

At the airport, Najeeb and Hakim encounter the first signs of misunderstanding and confusion when a local, supposedly their sponsor, colloquially known in the Gulf as al-Kafeel. This marks the beginning of a long journey of exploitation. Soon, Najeeb finds himself isolated in the depths of the Saudi desert, alone after being forcibly separated from Hakim and forced to work as a shepherd in harsh, inhumane conditions, far removed from any semblance of a dignified life.

 

In addition to this, Najeeb endures severe physical and psychological suffering that strips him of his dignity and humanity. As time passes, the situation worsens when his work companion, who had endured the same bitter experience with the same sponsor for years, suddenly disappears. The companion’s appearance had already hinted at the long and grueling tasks he had endured. Najeeb’s realization of the gravity of his situation and his inevitable fate comes when he discovers the companion’s corpse in the wilderness, devoured by vultures in a scene devoid of any human decency. He plans to escape, but all his attempts fail, leaving him once again trapped in every imaginable form of dehumanization.

 

The Goat Life scene

 

 

 

The Deserts of the Gulf and Palestine: Dehumanization Across Time

 

In the Arabian Gulf, the story of Najeeb and Hakim is not an exception; rather, it serves as a window into the conditions that many migrant workers, particularly those from South Asia. These workers are brought in with rosy dreams of improving their economic situation. Still, in reality, they encounter harsh and degrading conditions, where they are treated as mere tools of labor rather than as individuals with rights and dignity. This reality is not simply the product of economic circumstances or individual greed; it is part of an entire system that systematically strips these workers of their humanity under the guise of the kafala (sponsorship) system.

In Palestine, dehumanization takes on even more brutal and destructive dimensions. For over seventy years, the Palestinian people have lived under an occupation that seeks by all means to strip them of their humanity and identity. The Zionist occupation does not merely seek to occupy the land; it targets the Palestinian mind and spirit, using various tools to achieve this goal. One such tool is “systematic dehumanization,” which is continuously employed to justify the brutal policies against Palestinians. Zionist propaganda has long portrayed Palestinians as a constant threat to their historical and religious right to the Promised Land, thereby justifying the killing, displacement, and deprivation of Palestinians from their fundamental rights. These policies are not random; they are part of a long-term strategy rooted in the same foundations used by Western colonizers throughout history: imperialism, Orientalism, and racism.

 

 

These massacres are not merely isolated and incidental events; instead, they are the result of a long-term strategy aimed at stripping Palestinians of their humanity. The use of excessive force against civilians demonstrates how the Zionist occupation relies on the same policies employed by European colonizers in the Arab world, Africa, and other colonized regions across the globe.

 

 

History Repeats Itself: Dehumanization in the Arab World and Africa

When we look back and reflect on the history of people subjected to colonization, we see that the process of “systematic dehumanization” was an integral tool of control used by colonizers. In India, for example, the British imposed harsh policies aimed at stripping Indians of their rights and humanity. The famines that plagued India under British rule were not merely the result of poor management but were deliberate policies of starvation designed to subjugate the population and keep them under control.

 

Many Arab and African peoples suffered from the same colonial policies aimed at stripping them of their humanity and erasing their identity. Take Algeria, for instance, which endured one of the bloodiest periods in its history during French colonization. The colonizers treated the Algerian people as less than human, depicting them as savage and backward. This was part of the ideology the colonizers used to justify their massacres. One of the most infamous of these was the Sétif massacre in 1945, where tens of thousands of Algerians were killed in cold blood, a stark example of this systematic dehumanization. The massacre began when Algerians in the city of Sétif demonstrated, demanding independence from France to reclaim their dignity, freedom, and humanity. However, the French forces responded to the protests with excessive force, shooting at the demonstrators, killing thousands, and launching widespread crackdowns in Algerian cities and villages, resulting in the deaths of between 20,000 and 45,000 Algerians.

 

In Sub-Saharan Africa, dehumanization policies were even more brutal in the Belgian Congo, where King Leopold II (1885-1908) ruled with an iron fist. Millions of indigenous people were killed in what was called the “colonial experiment.” These people were never considered fully human but were merely tools to amass wealth for the colonizers. Systematic dehumanization here was an integral part of the colonial process, which used violence and repression to keep the indigenous population in a state of perpetual slavery. Under Leopold II’s rule, the Congo became hell on earth; the indigenous people were forced to work on rubber plantations under brutal conditions, and they were killed, mutilated, or disfigured if they failed to meet the quotas. Estimates suggest that between 10 and 15 million Congolese perished because of these brutal policies. This history of systematic dehumanization was not just a transient policy; it was part of a comprehensive system designed to subjugate non-European peoples and keep them under control. 

 

This systematic stripping of humanity cannot be separated from Orientalism, which was presented by Orientalists as a framework to understand the East and justify its domination; it was also a key tool in this process. Some Orientalists presented a distorted image of the East as a place of backwardness and ignorance, which helped justify imperialist and racist policies against the peoples of the Middle East and Africa. These are all examples of how the white man practiced the same policy wherever he went. The reasons and methods were always the same: racial superiority to achieve maximum economic benefit by systematically dehumanizing colonized peoples.

 

 

Massacres in Palestine: Before and After October 7

Palestine has not been spared from the grim fate that inevitably results from the systematic dehumanization policies pursued by the racist white man, convinced of his superiority. Since the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian lands have witnessed numerous massacres systematically targeting civilians, aiming to terrorize them and drive them from their lands. Examples of massacres before October 7, 2023, include, but are not limited to, the Gaza Wars from 2008 to 2021, which claimed the lives of over 4,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

 

Looking further back in history, there are many other massacres, such as the Deir Yassin massacre, one of the most infamous and brutal in the history of the conflict, which occurred in 1948. During this massacre, Zionist forces from the “Irgun” and “Stern” gangs attacked the village of Deir Yassin near Jerusalem. Over 100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, were killed in the attack. This massacre was part of a broader strategy to terrorize the Palestinian population and force them to flee their villages, which indeed happened, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Another example is the Kafr Qasim massacre in 1956, when Israeli border police killed 49 Palestinians from the village of Kafr Qasim, including women and children, during curfew hours. This incident was part of a broader campaign to control the Arab population within Israel and prevent them from moving during the Suez Crisis.

 

After the Palestinian resistance attack on Israeli settlements on October 7, 2023, Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign on Gaza and the West Bank, which is still ongoing. This campaign has included a series of massacres against civilians, where residential areas have been deliberately and directly targeted. So far, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, including large numbers of women and children, and the destruction of hundreds of homes and vital infrastructure, leading to mass displacement. The series of massacres continues with the deliberate targeting of camps, schools, and hospitals where civilians seek refuge.

 

These massacres are not merely isolated and incidental events; instead, they are the result of a long-term strategy aimed at stripping Palestinians of their humanity. The use of excessive force against civilians shows how the Zionist occupation relies on the same policies employed by European colonizers in the Arab world, Africa, and other colonized regions across the globe. No human being can witness the horrific scenes of children’s scattered remains after each massacre and continue with the same imperialist policies unless they view these people as less human, which is what happens in Palestine every day! No nation can celebrate and sing as they witness these remains, as the Israelis do unless they believe that Palestinians are less human than they are! No people can protest the imprisonment of soldiers for raping and torturing their prisoners, as the Israelis have done, unless they believe that Palestinian prisoners are not only less human but something even lower!

 

 

Racism and Racial Superiority: In the Gulf and Palestine

Although the issue of migrant labor in the Gulf and the Palestinian cause are entirely different, we find that systematic dehumanization has the same devastating effect in both contexts, albeit rooted in other origins. Migrant labor in the Gulf is subjected to severe injustice and exploitation because of a racist and supremacist mindset. This mindset views these communities as a labor force that can be ruthlessly exploited for economic gain. Greed does not operate in isolation here; it intersects with a deep-seated racism that makes it easy to ignore the rights and humanity of these workers. This racism is not coincidental; it is the result of historical and cultural accumulations that perpetuate these inhumane practices. While the forms of exploitation vary from case to case, the common root remains the belief in racial and cultural superiority, which is used to justify such treatment—a reality clearly depicted in the film The Goat Life.

 

It is essential to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, with migrant workers in the Gulf, and with all those whose rights and humanity are being stripped away anywhere in the world. The struggle against dehumanization is a fight for building a more just and humane future for everyone, regardless of race, religion, or cultural background.

 

In Palestine, systematic dehumanization takes a much more brutal and bloody form. The Zionist occupation relies on a complex mixture of Orientalism, imperialism, and racism in its repressive policies, portraying Palestinians as a perpetual threat that must be eliminated. This hostile depiction not only denies them their basic human rights as individuals but also justifies the brutal policies of killing, torture, and displacement practiced against them. In this context, racism becomes more than just social prejudice; it is part of an ideological structure aimed at stripping Palestinians of their humanity. This ideology is rooted in Western imperialist ambitions and an Orientalist view that regards the East as backward and dangerous. It justifies the occupation under the guise of cultural and racial superiority, making the occupation seem acceptable in the eyes of those who embrace this view, and casts it as a “necessity” rather than an injustice.

 

 

Human Consequences: Stolen Dignity

In The Goat Life, we see how the dehumanization process leads to the slow and painful destruction of an individual, both psychologically and physically. Najeeb, who began his journey hoping to improve his life, finds himself trapped in a nightmare in the depths of the desert. He endures unbearable, harsh conditions, suffering from complete isolation, hunger, and constant fear. Gradually, he transforms from a person with dreams and ambitions into a mere being struggling to survive. Najeeb’s story demonstrates how continuous psychological and physical pressure can break a person from within, causing him to lose his sense of self and dignity.

 

Najib is not an isolated individual case; rather, he represents a reality—whether on a small or large scale—that some migrant workers in the Gulf face daily. These workers are brought in with promises of a better life but often find themselves trapped in a cycle of harsh exploitation and fear of losing their jobs. They are stripped of their humanity through the denial of their fundamental rights to work and live with dignity. These workers are forced to work long hours in grueling conditions without legal or social protection, exposing them to excessive exploitation. Furthermore, as highlighted in the film, the severity of the abuses, in some cases, escalates to continuous physical and psychological assaults, where they are treated as mere tools of labor with no regard for their humanity.

 

In Palestine, we see on a larger scale the same devastating results of systematic dehumanization but with more brutal and encompassing dimensions. The Palestinian people, systematically deprived of their fundamental rights, are subjected to psychological and physical warfare aimed at breaking their will and completely subjugating them. Zionist policies do not only target Palestinian land; they seek to dismantle Palestinian identity and destroy the social and cultural bonds that unite the Palestinian people. Palestinians live under the weight of daily repressive policies, including mass arrests, torture, blockades, and military attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure. These policies are not just tools of oppression; they are means of destroying the Palestinian spirit and subjugating the people to the will of the occupation. Dehumanization in this context goes beyond individuals to the attempt to erase the collective identity of Palestinians.

 

Seeking Humanity: Salvation and Return

At the end of the film, Najeeb returns to his homeland, but this return is not a symbol of victory as much as it is an attempt to escape a hell he did not choose and had no hand in creating. Najeeb, who managed to escape the harshness and confines of the desert, returns home broken, both mentally and physically, carrying the burdens of a harsh experience that left deep scars on his soul and spirit. Yet, despite all this suffering, Najeeb returns with a glimmer of hope; he regains a part of the humanity that was stripped from him during his bitter journey in the hope of piecing together the fragments of his humanity that were trampled by exploitation, hunger, and fear. Restoring humanity is not an easy or quick task; it is a painful and complex process that requires an individual to confront their pain and deal with the effects of dehumanization. Victims often find themselves compelled to leave the places that witnessed their dehumanization in search of a new beginning and a different life that restores what they have lost.

 

However, for many—especially in Palestine—the idea of return or salvation seems difficult to achieve, but it is not impossible. Palestinians live under the burden of an occupation that continuously seeks to strip them of their humanity and identity. The attempt to subjugate them and force them into submission is not just a possibility; it is a daily reality they face. This return is not merely a return to the homeland; it is a return to a lost identity, stolen rights, and violated dignity. It is a journey that requires a long struggle and enormous sacrifices, as Palestinians face not only a military occupation but also a continuous attempt to erase their cultural and social identity. They resist every day to preserve their collective memory and shared heritage, making the dream of return more than just a political goal; it is an existential issue: the right to live as a human being.

 

Despite all the oppression and displacement they face, Palestinians have not given up on their dream of returning to and existing in a free and independent homeland. This dream gives them the strength to continue their struggle despite all the attempts to divert them from their path. This is what Najeeb did; he clung to his dream, despite stopping his escape attempts, by keeping his suitcase packed, hoping to return one day.

 

 

The Necessity of Human Solidarity: Towards a More Humane World

The comparison between what happens in the film *The Goat Life* and what happens in Palestine pushes us to realize the need to recognize the common humanity among all people. In the Gulf, we must confront the racism that is used to justify the exploitation of migrant workers and work towards achieving justice and equality for them. We must recognize that these communities, which have contributed their efforts and sweat to building the Gulf states, deserve respect and full human rights—not as a favor but as a duty.

 

In Palestine, the struggle against systematic dehumanization policies requires global solidarity to support the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and freedom. Palestinians are victims of the same policies that have been used against other peoples in the Arab world and Africa, and the world must stop ignoring this fact. What has happened and continues to happen in Palestine is a continuation of the same colonial policies that other peoples in the Arab world and Africa have suffered, where the white man practiced the same systematic dehumanization to justify his control and exploitation.

 

Although the evidence clearly shows that despite civilisation, humans remain at their core animals and the civilisation their jungle, where the language they understand is the language of force, the humanistic principle must always remain present within us. We must continue to nurture our sense of shared humanity in every way to confront despair and disillusionment with the international community and its justice. There is an urgent need for human solidarity to confront these policies that strip people of their humanity. We must recognize that dehumanization is a deliberate process aimed at justifying injustice and oppression, and it can only be countered by mutual recognition of our shared humanity.

 

In this context, it becomes necessary to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, with migrant workers in the Gulf, and with all those whose rights and humanity are being stripped away anywhere in the world. The struggle against dehumanization is a fight for building a more just and humane future for everyone, regardless of race, religion, or cultural background. However, this path is not lined with roses, and the path to restoring dignity does not come without imposing force and making sacrifices—always and forever. The restoration of dignity and humanity for Palestinians is a long and arduous journey that requires persistence and sacrifice. It is a journey against all forces of dehumanization and disintegration that seek to erase the identities of individuals and peoples. This is the most significant reflection we see at the end of the film The Goat Life; Najeeb’s journey to reclaim his existence and identity was not easy but highly arduous, requiring sacrifices that nearly cost him his life more than once, and he lost his companion.