Rafah 'Reopening' Masks Israel's Ongoing Starvation Siege
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab exposes how thousands of critically ill Gazans remain unable to leave for medical treatment, even with the Rafah crossing ostensibly open on a 'trial basis.' The article highlights that this limited access is merely symbolic, with countless patients trapped in the besieged strip. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Rafah's 'control' has always been a
weapon. After the 2005 disengagement, Israel maintained effective control over Gaza's borders, land, sea, and air. The 17-year blockade, intensifying since 2007, systematically strangled Gaza's medical infrastructure. This recent 'reopening' follows the 2023-24 genocide, where over 40,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, have been killed, and medical facilities specifically targeted,
leaving the Strip in a catastrophic health crisis. The closure of Rafah and the destruction of hospitals aren't collateral damage; they are components of a deliberate policy to render Gaza uninhabitable. Double Standard: Western media and governments laud any 'opening' of Rafah as a humanitarian gesture, despite it being a fraction of what's needed and under extreme Israeli and Egyptian control.
Yet, when the US-backed Saudi coalition imposes a blockade on Yemen, causing millions to face starvation and medical crises, the same outlets largely frame it as 'counter-terrorism.' The suffering in Gaza is framed as an unfortunate outcome of 'conflict,' never as the direct result of a genocidal blockade, while similar actions by Western allies are justified. Follow the Money: The continued