I helped with airlifts in Afghanistan, aid to Ukraine, and building roads in Rwanda. None of it prepared me for the challenges of Gaza.

I have organized airlifts of women legislators, judges, and journalists out of Afghanistan as Kabul fell; delivered ongoing aid to Ukrainian front-line villages during Russia’s invasion; worked on efforts to build runways, roads, and highways to deliver aid to Rwandan refugees after the genocide; and delivered aid shipments to enclaves besieged and under attack by the Syrian army.

None of it prepared me for the challenges of trying to bring a few trucks of food and medicine per week into the Gaza Strip.

It’s easy to point the finger at Israel, the country that is implementing the blockade of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, half of whom are children. Yet trying to work the issue from every angle on a daily basis to get urgent medical and food aid in, I’ve come to the conclusion that President Joe Biden, for whom I hosted fundraisers and worked to elect in 2020, has signed on to Israel’s end goal of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza.

The Biden administration isn’t just complicit by refusing to condemn Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid — an absurd situation leading the U.S. to incur significant costs and unnecessary risks for symbolic airdrops. He’s actively supporting Israel’s oft-stated but ill-defined war aim of eradicating Hamas, a military effort with little concern for Palestinian lives or the fate of Israel’s hostages held in Gaza.

  • JamesTBagg@lemmy.world
    21·
    6 months ago

    People may criticize America World Police, and the American military spending and posturing, but this is a perfect opportunity to put it to good use. If Biden et al in Washington actually cared: financial and military aid to Isreal is frozen; they obviously don’t need it. Deploy a Marine Expeditionary Unit stocked with aid into the Mediterranean (maybe supplement with a Navy hospital ship, perhaps a carrier strike group in “support.” Speak softly and carry a big stick).
    Declare that Marines will be providing aid to Gaza via amphibious landing and helicopter. Make it clear they’re sent in peace but should one Israeli bullet even graze a Marine or their equipment, the US will not have to kill 30,000 civilians to get to those responsible.
    I’d bet a dollar Netanyahu (or any other world leader) would start behaving more prudently. And it would cost nothing: MEUs will be sailing regardless, Israeli aid will be transferred to Gaza aid, funds already earmarked will simply be redirected.

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldOP
      11·
      6 months ago

      Biden literally wants to Genocide Palestinians. He’s still secretly sending bombs to israel to commit Genocide with.

      Even israeli Generals have admitted they would have ran out of bombs long ago if Biden didn’t keep resupplying them.