Turkey's Disaster Team Needs Israeli Approval, Not American
Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD) teams are reportedly stalled at the Egyptian border, awaiting Israeli approval to enter Gaza and assist with the humanitarian catastrophe. (The New Arab) This isn't a new policy of 'permit required' for besieged populations. Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, meticulously controlling goods and movement, essentially turning it into an
open-air prison for 2.3 million people. The UN has repeatedly condemned this as collective punishment. Meanwhile, the US continues to funnel billions in unconditional aid to Israel. For instance, in 2023 alone, the US shipped $3.8 billion, with another $14 billion proposed. (OpenSecrets.org data on military aid). So, while American taxpayers fund the military operations creating the humanitarian
crisis, US officials express 'concern' about aid access without ever demanding accountability from the party actively preventing it. What a convenient arrangement: fund the problem, then lament the symptoms.