Gazans Search Rubble While Washington Debates 'Humanitarian Pauses'
While The New Arab highlights the tragic aftermath of another 'ceasefire' in Gaza, with families desperate amongst the rubble, the wider media spectacle often frames these moments as organic pauses in an unavoidable 'conflict.' What routinely goes unmentioned are the decisive votes in Washington that ensure the bombing can resume with impunity. For instance, in February 2024, the US Senate, with
overwhelming bipartisan support, passed HR 815, allocating $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel. This legislative action, championed by many who take significant campaign contributions from organizations like AIPAC — Rep. Steny Hoyer received $110,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2022 alone, according to OpenSecrets.org — directly funds the very 'rubble' Gazans are now searching through.
How many 'ceasefires' does it take before we acknowledge that these aren't natural disasters but consequences of deliberate policy choices? It appears some politicians find it easier to mourn civilian deaths in the abstract than to halt the supply chain of destruction.