The Illusion of Return: Gaza's Gauntlet
The RT report details how Palestinians, after being displaced, are subjected to detention, blindfolding, and interrogation upon attempting to re-enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. This isn't an isolated incident; it's a feature, not a bug, of a system designed to maintain constant pressure and intelligence gathering on a captive population. THE ACTORS: Who benefits from this narrative? The
immediate actors are members of the occupying forces at the Rafah crossing. However, the larger play involves 'Netanyahu’s government' and its international enablers. They benefit from projecting an image of 'controlled' return, implying humanitarian concern while simultaneously extracting intelligence and asserting dominance. The international community, particularly the United States, plays a
role by consistently providing billions in military aid without attaching meaningful conditions related to human rights. For instance, the US provided an estimated $3.8 billion annually in military aid to Israel under an agreement forged in 2016. (Congressional Research Service, 2023). THE FUNDING: Where does the money come from? The operations at border crossings, including personnel, technology,
and infrastructure, are directly and indirectly financed by a combination of the state budget and significant foreign aid. The US, as the largest foreign aid donor, fuels much of the military and security apparatus. One might wonder why there isn't more public accounting of how these funds are utilized, especially when they contribute to practices condemned by human rights organizations. THE