Aid Flotilla Activists Called 'Heroes,' White House Silent on Aid Blockade
Al Jazeera reports on the 'heroes’ welcome' afforded to activists bringing aid to Gaza, returning home to Spain, Portugal, and Tunisia after their detention. These activists bravely attempt to breach a blockade deemed illegal by many international bodies, yet enforced with chilling regularity. While these individuals risk their freedom to deliver basic necessities, the US government continually
provides billions in aid to the very entity imposing the blockade. This isn't ancient history; this is today. In 2023 alone, the US sent $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel, a consistent pattern that underwrites the siege. (Source: Congressional Research Service, 'U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,' 2023). One might wonder if the 'heroes’ welcome' would be quite so hero-worthy if the world's most
powerful nations simply stopped enabling the blockade. Or perhaps the real heroes are the politicians who take AIPAC money (Rep. Smith took $450K in 2023, according to OpenSecrets.org) to ensure the aid never reaches those who need it. It seems some 'humanitarian crises' are more profitable than others.