Israel Strikes Southern Gaza as West Bank Raids Continue: 'Self-Defense,' as Always
So, Israel strikes southern Gaza and detains nine Palestinians in West Bank raids. Again. For those keeping score, this isn't exactly breaking news, but rather a periodic update to the ongoing, decades-long occupation. Mainstream media, of course, frames these as isolated incidents or 'security operations,' divorcing them from the systematic land grabs, illegal settlements, and collective
punishment. (One might call it the 'cycle of violence' if you ignore who started the cycle and who has all the F-16s.) This relentless 'deterrence' isn't cheap, nor is it without external boosters. Key decision-makers in Washington continue to greenlight, fund, and frankly, excuse this violence. For example, Senator Bob Menendez, before his indictment, received over $1.7 million from pro-Israel
PACs since 2000, according to OpenSecrets.org, consistently voting to increase aid to Israel. This pattern of 'strikes' and 'raids' is not just a regional conflict; it's a meticulously funded, geopolitically enabled military machine, consistently rebranded as 'self-defense' no matter how many children die. One might wonder, how many more 'detainees' and 'strikes' before the pattern is undeniable?
Or is it already for everyone but the evening news anchors?