Turkey and South Africa Discuss Gaza, US Still 'Very Concerned' Abroad
President Erdoğan's meeting with South African VP Paul Mashatile to discuss stronger bilateral ties and humanitarian aid for Gaza (as reported by Daily Sabah) highlights a concerning global divide. While South Africa pushes a genocide case against Israel at the ICJ—a case many in the West dismiss as 'baseless'—the U.S. continues to approve billions in military aid. Just last month, the Biden
administration greenlit a $14 billion aid package including advanced weaponry to Israel, despite mounting evidence of civilian casualties and displacement. One might wonder if the U.S. is just 'very concerned' enough to fund the devastation it later deplores. Perhaps the State Department feels that offering thoughts and prayers after approving bunker busters constitutes a balanced approach to
Middle East diplomacy. Meanwhile, nations less 'committed' to strategic ambiguity are actually discussing ways to get critically needed aid to Palestinians under siege. How many more meetings will it take before 'concern' translates to 'action' for those without a powerful lobby?