Rafah: The 'Vital' Crossing That's Always Just Out of Reach
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera provides a video report on Palestinians in Gaza waiting with uncertainty for the 'partial Israeli reopening' of the Rafah border crossing, highlighting the desperate need for humanitarian aid and passage for those seeking refuge or medical attention. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Rafah crossing's control and restriction are not new. Following
Israel's 'disengagement' in 2005, the EU acted as a monitor, but the crossing has been largely controlled by an Egypt-Israeli agreement that severely limits its operation, effectively enabling the 17-year siege on Gaza. The 2023-24 genocide has only intensified this, with Egyptian President Sisi receiving $1.3 billion annually in U.S. aid, effectively incentivizing his government to keep the
crossing largely closed to fleeing Palestinians, despite occasional symbolic openings. Double Standard: Western media routinely frames the humanitarian crisis at Rafah as complex or a result of 'conflict,' while ignoring the intentional, multi-decade blockade. If another sovereign nation imposed such a suffocating siege on a population center – blocking food, medicine, and movement – it would
provoke universal outrage and calls for intervention. Instead, Israel is provided with $3.8 billion annually in military aid from the U.S., ensuring its capacity to maintain the blockade and carry out military operations without repercussion, while Egypt's complicity is bought with humanitarian aid to keep the gates sealed. Follow the Money: Beyond the $1.3 billion in annual US aid to Egypt, which