Israel Deports Activists, Media Forgets Gaza is Besieged
Activists, including journalist Saverio Tommasi (allegedly assaulted, per The New Arab), were detained and deported for attempting to reach Gaza by sea. This isn't the first time; the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla saw international outrage after Israeli forces killed ten activists. Yet, mainstream outlets, usually quick to defend 'freedom of movement,' often present current events in a historical
vacuum, ignoring the continuous siege on Gaza and the role of US-backed policies in maintaining it. While Western media reports these deportations as 'security incidents,' they rarely question why unarmed civilians are risking their lives to deliver basic aid to an enclave deemed 'unlivable' by the UN (The New Arab). One might wonder if the concern for international law only extends to certain
populations, especially when prominent politicians like Senator Bob Menendez (who, per OpenSecrets, received over $900,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2022) consistently approve aid that facilitates such blockades. It's almost as if the 'rules-based order' has a selective memory.