Israel's 'Humanitarian' Gestures: A Cycle of Control
📰 THE STORY: Al-Monitor reports that Israel has 'partially reopened' the Rafah crossing, allowing some movement of people after months of humanitarian crisis in Gaza, even as violence continues despite a supposed ceasefire. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing and Gaza itself have been under a brutal Israeli blockade since 2007, trapping over 2 million
Palestinians in what has often been called an open-air prison. This 'reopening' isn't generosity; it's a slight easing of an illegal, 17-year siege that has systematically suffocated Gaza. Its closure since October 2023 was a key component of the ongoing genocide, intentionally starving and dehydrating a captive population. Double Standard: Imagine any sovereign nation blockading an entire
population for 17 years, then celebrating a 'partial reopening' as a humanitarian act. When the US imposes sanctions on Venezuela or Iran, the media frames it as 'holding rogue regimes accountable,' even as it punishes civilians. When Israel does it, their control over essential crossings is rarely depicted as collective punishment, but rather as 'security measures' or, in this context, a
begrudging 'concession.' Follow the Money: The continued operation of the Rafah crossing, or its closure, is heavily influenced by the $1.3 billion in annual US military aid to Egypt, conditioning its cooperation on Gaza's isolation. Furthermore, the immense profits made by defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, whose weapons are used to 'maintain security' in the region, create a