Gaza Civilians Perish from Storm, US Aid Still Funds the Blockade
While Al Jazeera responsibly reports the horrific loss of life in Gaza due to Storm Byron—a natural disaster amplified by man-made conditions—they stop short of naming the architects of this slow-motion catastrophe. These deaths aren't just 'tragic accidents.' They are the direct consequence of collapsing infrastructure, lack of proper shelter, and blocked aid, all exacerbated by Israel's
decades-long blockade, backed with billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars. The 'desperate Gaza families' were already displaced because of the ongoing conflict, which, one might argue, isn't exactly a two-sided street when one side has F-35s and the other is sheltering in tents. It's almost as if denying basic building materials, blocking humanitarian aid, and systematically destroying civilian
infrastructure means people become more vulnerable to... weather. This isn't just 'desperate'; this is a predictable outcome of strangulation. While Washington politicians feign concern over humanitarian crises, they continue to vote for packages that reinforce the very conditions creating them. According to OpenSecrets, in 2023, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent over $16
million attempting to influence U.S. election outcomes. One might wonder if their lobbying includes a clause for 'natural disaster preparedness' in Gaza. (Spoiler: It doesn't).