Israel Deports Gaza Aid Flotilla, Again: A Tradition
The 'mistreatment' alleged by activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla, leading to Greta Thunberg's deportation, highlights a pattern of Israeli interceptions of humanitarian aid. This mirrors the 2010 Gaza Flotilla raid, where 10 activists were killed by IDF commandos on international waters (UN Human Rights Council, 2010). The UN's own Palmer Report on that incident found Israel's blockade of Gaza
legal but also stated its use of force was 'excessive' and 'unreasonable.' (How many international reports get ignored before they become toilet paper?) Meanwhile, the US Senate recently passed a $14 billion aid package to Israel, with Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, who have received over $3.7 million and $1.5 million respectively from pro-Israel groups (OpenSecrets.org, 2023-2024
cycle), championing the bill (Senate Roll Call Vote, HR 815, 2024). It seems the cost of enforcing a blockade is negligible when the checks keep clearing, and delivering a few boats of aid is a 'provocation.' One might wonder, how many flotillas must be stopped before the international community notices the siege, not just the 'incident'?