Rafah 'Reopening' narrative: A Humanitarian Mirage Built on a Foundation of Sanctions and US Dollars
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports an unnamed "Palestinian official" suggesting the Rafah crossing with Egypt will open next week, coinciding with a nebulous 'Board of Peace' initiative from President Trump. The tone implies progress and a potential easing of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing has been under a de facto, and
often explicit, land, air, and sea blockade since 2007, enforced by both Israel and Egypt. Egypt's participation in this blockade, which has strangled Gaza for 17 years, is predicated on receiving substantial annual military aid from the US. For example, in 2023 alone, Egypt received approximately $1.3 billion in US foreign aid, much of it military, directly incentivizing its government, currently
led by President Sisi, to maintain policies aligned with US and Israeli interests – which include keeping Rafah largely closed or heavily restricted. Double Standard: Media eagerly report on 'reopening' promises for Gaza, framing it as a positive development, often without questioning *why* it was ever closed or *who* benefits from its closure. In contrast, if a sovereign nation were to
unilaterally close its border, crippling another population for 17 years, the condemnation would be swift and severe, often followed by calls for intervention. Yet, when Egypt, a key US ally, does it to Palestinians, it's presented as a nuanced security measure, or its 'reopening' as a charitable act. The humanitarian catastrophe inside Gaza, with 40,000+ dead in the 2023-24 genocide, highlights