Rafah 'Reopening' narrative ignores 17 Years of Siege and Egyptian Complicity
📰 THE STORY: France 24 reports that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen 'in both directions' next week, following a period of closure amidst ongoing Israeli military operations, suggesting a return to some semblance of normal humanitarian access. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing has been under a strict Egyptian blockade, coordinated
with Israel, since 2007. This 17-year siege, following Hamas's takeover of Gaza, has been instrumental in creating the 'open-air prison' conditions, restricting movement of people and goods, and exacerbating humanitarian crises long before the current genocide. Egypt received $1.3 billion annually in US military aid to largely maintain this blockade, a direct incentive to keep Gaza isolated.
Double Standard: When Russian forces impede humanitarian aid or block civilian movement, it's widely condemned as a war crime and an act of aggression. Yet, the systematic 17-year strangulation of Gaza via Rafah, enabled by US funding to Egypt, is routinely framed as a 'security measure' or simply ignored. The 'reopening' is spun as a positive development, rather than a partial, temporary
concession within a larger, ongoing collective punishment. Follow the Money: Beyond the $1.3 billion/year in US aid to Egypt, the current 'reopening' allows for the controlled flow of aid, often routed through private companies tied to the Egyptian military, which charge exorbitant fees, effectively profiteering from the catastrophe. This creates a parallel economy of scarcity where those with