Israel 'Retaliates' for Perceived Ceasefire Violation, Again
The Independent dutifully reports Israel 'launched an attack on Gaza' after accusing Hamas of a 'bold violation' of a ceasefire, citing 'alleged RPG and sniper fire' (The Independent). This narrative feels... familiar. How many times has Israel, with its overwhelming military might largely bankrolled by US taxpayers (OpenSecrets.org shows US aid to Israel exceeding $3.8 billion annually), declared
a 'ceasefire' only to be the first to break it, or to 'retaliate' for an alleged infraction with disproportional force? A quick glance at recent history reveals this pattern: 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021—each 'ceasefire' followed by devastating Israeli 'retaliation' that far outstrips any initial provocation. We're told Hamas 'allegedly' fired, yet the subsequent Israeli 'attack' is presented as a firm
fact. How many times must a besieged population, living under an illegal blockade, experience these 'retaliatory' cycles? It appears the definition of 'ceasefire' in the mainstream press means Israel stops bombing until it finds a pretext to resume, while the rest of the world debates the 'legitimacy' of resistance from those trapped. One might wonder if the real 'bold violation' is the continuous
erasure of context.