Rafah 'Reopens': Did They Forget the Doors Were Always There?
The excitement that Rafah's border to Egypt might "reopen" this Thursday for people (per Al-Monitor) is an interesting bit of linguistic gymnastics. It implies a voluntary closure, not a deliberate, suffocating blockade of millions under siege. This isn't a gesture of goodwill; it's a slight crack in an imposed cage, following weeks where essential aid was stalled and exit was impossible. Funny
how a humanitarian catastrophe gets reframed as a mere administrative delay, isn't it? While media outlets highlight the 'opening,' they rarely connect it to the ongoing campaign-finance charade in Washington. For instance, consider how many U.S. politicians who now laud 'humanitarian pauses' have taken significant contributions from groups like AIPAC, which lobbies for unrestricted aid to Israel.
According to OpenSecrets, AIPAC spent nearly $4 million lobbying Congress in 2023 alone. These donations precede votes on military aid that perpetuates the conditions now requiring a 'humanitarian' opening. It’s almost as if the very people creating the conditions are later lauded for 'allowing' a temporary reprieve. (One might wonder about the timing.)