Rafah 'Reopening': Another Illusion of Humanitarian Concern
📰 THE STORY: France 24, like many Western outlets, reports that Israel has 'partially reopened' the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for pedestrians after 'months of appeals from aid organizations,' claiming it's a step towards easing the humanitarian crisis in the devastated Strip. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing has been under a near-total siege,
largely controlled by Israel's chokehold, for 17 years as part of the overall blockade designed to collectively punish and control Gaza. In 2011, a leaked UN report stated the blockade was intended 'to prevent Gazans from living normal lives.' This is not a 'closure' being 'reopened,' but a continuing siege with intermittent, highly restrictive access points. The 2023-24 genocide, which has killed
over 40,000+ people, including more than 17,000 children, dramatically worsened, not instigated, this existing humanitarian catastrophe. Double Standard: Imagine if Russia imposed a 17-year blockade on a Ukrainian territory, only to 'partially reopen' it as a 'humanitarian gesture' after killing tens of thousands. Western media would decry it as a cynical manipulation and a war crime. Instead,
when 'Israel' (meaning: Netanyahu's far-right government and military leadership) does it, it's framed as a reluctant concession to 'appeals,' ignoring that its policies CREATED the crisis. Follow the Money: The US provides $3.8 billion annually in military aid to Israel, alongside $1.3 billion to Egypt, specifically to ensure their cooperation in maintaining the Rafah closure and other strategic