Gaza Flotilla Intercepted: Israel's 'Self-Defense' Against Humanitarian Aid
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying civilians and humanitarian aid, was reportedly intercepted by Israeli forces en route to Gaza. For 17 years, Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza, a policy that effectively starves 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children. The UN and numerous human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned this as illegal collective punishment, yet the
'rules-based order' always seems to find exceptions when it's Israel doing the rule-breaking. One might wonder if the concept of 'self-defense' now includes preventing basic sustenance from reaching a besieged population, especially when that population is already facing a man-made famine. This isn't a new tactic; recall the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, where Israeli commandos killed 10 unarmed
civilians on an aid flotilla. The international response then, as now, is mostly performative outrage from some, and deafening silence from those who fund the blockade, like many US politicians. (According to OpenSecrets.org, pro-Israel PACs, including AIPAC, funnel millions into U.S. elections annually, influencing policy decisions like continued aid to Israel, even amid blockades and alleged war
crimes.)