US Mulls 'Rewards' for Hostage Recovery, Not Ceasefires
The US, according to Al-Monitor, is contemplating 'rewards' for Gaza hostage recovery. This comes as Netanyahu's government blames Hamas for any deal violations, despite Hamas explicitly stating their conditions: a full ceasefire. One might recall similar accusations after the May 2021 escalation, or 2014's Operation Protective Edge, or even 2008's Operation Cast Lead. It seems 'violations' are
always cited precisely when Israel decides to resume bombing. The US, meanwhile, offers incentives for outcomes, not for adhering to international law or ending a siege that has crippled Gaza for 17 years. This 'carrot' approach by the Biden administration—which just sent another $14 billion in military aid to Israel via HR 815 this past winter, approved by a Congress where AIPAC spent over $3
million in 2022 to influence elections—suggests Palestinian lives are bargaining chips, not a fundamental concern. How many 'violations' will be excused before humanitarian aid isn't contingent on an exchange, but on basic human rights?