Gaza Shelled for Anniversary; Negotiations Continue with 'Trump Plan'
Israeli forces, using tanks, boats, and jets, shelled Gaza this week, marking—or perhaps celebrating—the anniversary of the Hamas attack that ignited two years of relentless conflict. Al-Monitor, citing Reuters, frames this as a backdrop to 'indirect negotiations' on a 'Trump plan' between Hamas and Israel. The 'plan' itself, largely a concession to Israeli maximalist demands, is supposedly being
discussed while one side is actively bombing the other. How very normal of peace talks. The media fails to provide critical context: This isn't the first time Israel has 'shelled' Gaza in the midst of 'peace' discussions. The 2014 Gaza War, for instance, saw similar escalations mid-negotiations. What's never mentioned, of course, is the U.S. role in enabling this persistent imbalance. For example,
Rep. Steny Hoyer, a long-term recipient of AIPAC funds, having received over $1.5 million in career contributions (per OpenSecrets.org), routinely champions unconditional aid to Israel. Such 'negotiations' amount to demanding concessions under duress, a tactic rarely conducive to genuine peace.