US Congress 'Deeply Concerned' About Flotilla—Just Not By It
The Daily Sabah reports the Turkish Parliament has unanimously—yes, unanimously—condemned an Israeli attack on a Freedom Flotilla Coalition aiming to deliver aid to Gaza. This follows a pattern of Israeli interceptions of aid ships (like the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, where 10 humanitarian activists were killed) often occurring in international waters. While Ankara raises concerns, Washington's
halls of power remain remarkably silent, or at best, offer performative hand-wringing. According to OpenSecrets.org, AIPAC spent nearly $25 million in lobbying and contributions in 2022 alone, ensuring many US lawmakers find it remarkably difficult to condemn Israeli actions consistently. One might wonder if 'international waters' become merely decorative when applied to Israel's blockade of Gaza,
a blockade consistently deemed illegal by numerous human rights organizations. The contrast is stark: a parliament united in condemnation of an attack on humanitarian aid versus a US Congress where bipartisan support for policies enabling such blockades remains unwavering, often after hefty donations. It’s almost as if some condemnations are more equal than others, especially when they come with
political price tags.