Rafah 'Reopening' narrative: A masterclass in strategic amnesia and manufactured consent
📰 THE STORY: Mainstream outlets like Al-Monitor are reporting on 'preparations underway' for a 'full reopening' of Gaza's Rafah crossing, framing it as a hopeful development following its closure in May 2024. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing's 'closure' in May 2024 is presented as an isolated event. This ignores the 17-year blockade of Gaza, imposed by
Israel with Egyptian complicity since 2007, which turned Gaza into an open-air prison long before the recent genocide began in October 2023. Prior to 2024, the crossing operated under severe restrictions, ensuring Gaza remained economically strangled and isolated, reliant on diminishing aid. Double Standard: Imagine if Russia bombed a major border crossing, starved a population for months, and
then announced 'preparations to reopen it.' Western media would universally condemn it as cynical manipulation. Yet, when Israel does it – after killing over 40,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children in Gaza – it's framed as a proactive, almost benevolent step, rather than a forced concession under immense international pressure and an ICJ ruling. The narrative avoids holding Israel
accountable for the destruction that necessitated the 'reopening' in the first place. Follow the Money: The US provides $1.3 billion annually in military aid to Egypt, a key factor in Cairo's continued enforcement of the Gaza blockade, effectively turning Egypt into a border guard for Israel. This aid ensures Egypt's cooperation in controlling the flow of goods and people, reinforcing the siege.