Israel Reopens Rafah: 'Humanitarian Pause' on Starvation Edition
Israel, with solemn dignity, buries the bodies of recovered hostages, a tragedy that understandably commands global sympathy. Simultaneously, France 24 notes, they are 'preparing' to reopen the Rafah crossing into Gaza. This strategic choreography, linking grief with a controlled trickle of aid, isn't new. For decades, access to Gaza has been a tap Israel turns on and off – a tool of leverage, not
consistent humanitarian policy. One might recall similar 'humanitarian pauses' during operations like Cast Lead or Protective Edge, often after a significant body count or international outcry. The media dutifully reports the 'reopening' as progress, eliding the context that this crossing has been under various stages of siege or control for years, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis long before
recent events. How many times does a besieged population have to be 'allowed' basic necessities before we question the premise of the gatekeepers?