Turkey Seeks 'Civilians' in Tunnels, Media Misses the Obvious
Turkey's admirable concern for 'civilians trapped in tunnels' glosses over the inconvenient truth: Gaza has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 17 years, transforming it into an open-air prison. These tunnels, which Israel claims are solely for military purposes, have long been the only lifeline for civilians to import food, medicine, and basic necessities, as documented by numerous human
rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. News coverage often positions the tunnels as a Hamas invention, rather than a direct consequence of a strangling siege that cuts off 2.3 million people from the outside world. This framing is precisely why we aren't asking why civilians are in tunnels, but rather focusing on their rescue post-bombing. One might wonder if
the concern for 'trapped civilians' extends to those trapped above ground by Israeli bombardments and forced displacements. The focus on what happens within the tunnels conveniently sidesteps the policies that made them essential for survival. How many US politicians, fresh from taking AIPAC donations and voting for unconditional aid, have publicly questioned the legality or morality of a
prolonged siege that forces a civilian population underground?