Profound changes in both public and elite opinion are often slow to occur but — once they start — they can shift dramatically and quickly.

That’s what appears to be happening with attitudes to Israel, the Gaza War and Benjamin Netanyahu.

It should be emphasised, however, that since the war began, there have been many antisemitic outrages (including murders in the US) throughout the world and in Australia which shaped the narrative about the war. Equally, it should be said that some Jewish groups have weaponised accusations of antisemitism against those who have been critical of Israel’s prosecution of the war by equating any criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

In this context. one of the first strong indications in Australia of this change in public opinion over the Gaza War was Caitlin Johnstone’s article in Pearls and Irritations. Johnstone looked at multiple Western press outlets that have recently pivoted against Israel. She cited the Financial Times which editorialised about The West’s shameful silence on Gaza denouncing the US and Europe for having “issued barely a word of condemnation of their ally’s criminality” and that they “should be ashamed of their silence and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity".

The Economist said: The war in Gaza must end and that “the only people who benefit from continuing the war are Mr Netanyahu, who keeps his coalition intact, and his far-right allies who dream of emptying Gaza and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.”

UK Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who had been strongly pro-Israel said: “I have supported Israel at all costs for ages. But today I want to say I got it wrong and I condemn Israel for what it is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza and indeed the West Bank.”

Johnstone also cited a pro-Israel pundit, Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, who had denounced campus protestors but who now said he got it wrong, and that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Netanyahu has also indicated that knows he is losing the war of influence, although he was not admitting any fault or guilt for the Gaza blockade. He briefly relented on allowing some food and other supplies into Gaza, but then returned to his hardline stance.

The ABC reported that at the World Jewish Congress, the group’s President Rona Lauder “bemoaned the situation. All the good things Israel is doing is being destroyed by Smotrich (Israel Finance Minister and far-right politician) because his statements about starving the people and destroying (Gaza) are displayed all over the world, and the prime minister has the chance to stop him from saying these things and he will not do it”.

Smotrich has advocated ethnically cleansing Gaza and displacing the population.

The European Union, UK, Canada and France have all called for a complete lifting of the blockade on humanitarian aid. Even Australia — which has been remarkably timid on the issue until recently — has joined 22 other countries calling for the full and immediate resumption of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: “The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law.”

Albanese said: “Israel’s actions are completely unacceptable. It is outrageous that there is a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in Gaza.” A recent YouGov Australian poll has also found that four out of five people believe Israel’s blocking of humanitarian aid isn’t justifiable.

The EU — an Israeli trading partner — is reviewing its trade agreement with Israel and Britain has suspended trade talks with Israel and is imposing sanctions on Israel settlers in the occupied West Bank. The US has said it wouldn’t respond to the situation as other countries have and claimed that humanitarian aid would be resumed.

However, a White House official did say that “Mr Trump was upset by images of suffering children and babies emerging from the now 19 month long war".

If you can imagine Trump expressing empathy for anyone — let alone Gazan children — you have a very strange imagination.

The White House official also said: “The president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go and he wants to start rebuilding Gaza.”

After all, he already has a plan for Gaza — as he outlined some time ago — creating a crass seaside mega-development with high-end hotels, casinos and luxury homes which will be ideal for displaced Gazans. Just imagine the gold adornments.

Netanyahu says: “Israel accepts President Trump’s vision and urges all European leaders to do the same.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Oren Marmorstein is unrepentant and says Israel completely rejects a UN resolution (which Australia supported) demanding Israel end its occupation of the Occupied Palestinian territories as rapidly as possible.

He also said: “External pressure would not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security.”

Meanwhile, violent settlers are driving more Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank and Israeli troops have fired “warning shots” at 25 diplomats from 31 countries visiting Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

There is an ugly reality under all this. Israel was perfectly entitled to respond to the Hamas outrages. But what began as a response to a terrorist group has evolved into ethnic cleansing and a prolonged war which suits Netanyahu who would be defeated in any post-war election and would — once again — have to face the legal cases which have been suspended for the duration, but would probably end up with him in jail.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.