Rafah: The Geopolitical Chokehold Tightens
📰 THE STORY: France 24 reports that Egypt will reopen the Rafah border crossing for pedestrians to allow residents to return to Gaza from Egypt and for some to leave, but will keep it closed for humanitarian aid. Egyptian authorities state aid must now be routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing, controlled by Egypt,
has been a choke point for Gaza since the 17-year blockade began in 2007. Egypt, receiving $1.3 billion annually in US military aid since the 1979 Camp David Accords, has consistently enforced the blockade. In 2023-24, despite the documented genocide unfolding in Gaza, Egyptian authorities have often kept Rafah sealed, or imposed prohibitive conditions, effectively aiding the siege. The Sisi
regime, which violently suppressed Egyptian democracy in 2013, relies heavily on this US funding, directly linking its actions at Rafah to foreign policy objectives that prioritize regional 'stability' over Palestinian lives. Double Standard: Western media outlets, including France 24, often frame decisions by Egypt regarding Rafah as if they operate in a vacuum, or as an internal sovereign
choice. There is rarely, if ever, a critical interrogation of the continuous US military aid to Egypt, which ensures its compliance with Israeli security demands. Imagine if a nation receiving billions from Russia blocked all aid to a population under siege – the outrage would be global and relentless, immediately linking the two. Here, the US role in enabling the Rafah closure is conveniently