Mindful
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #21
Following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in 2005, the terrorist organization Hamas emerged as the victor in the 2006 Palestinian elections. Israel and the Middle East Quartet (the United States, Russia, United Nations, and European Union) subsequently imposed economic sanctions on Gaza. Three conditions were set to lift these economic sanctions: Hamas must renounce violence against Israel, recognize Israel, and honor all previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
In June 2007, Hamas staged a coup and seized control of Gaza from the PA. To prevent smuggling and the infiltration of terrorists, Israel and Egypt tightened their respective border crossings and placed restrictions on shipping. Though Israel is routinely condemned for enforcing the blockade, critics usually ignore the role of Egypt, which must cooperate to close the southern end of the Gaza Strip. In October 2014, and then again in March 2015, for example, Egypt demolished dozens of homes along its border with Gaza to create a buffer zone to stop smugglers and extremists from crossing in either direction.
Since the Hamas takeover, Israel has been bombarded by rockets and mortars and other terrorist attacks. When Israel has responded to these provocations, it has typically been blamed for the violence.
The international media and critics of Israel have repeatedly called the situation in Gaza a “humanitarian crisis” and blamed Israel for the conditions, ignoring the fact that Hamas has full authority within the Strip and has routinely diverts aid, medical supplies and other resources away from the public to its fighters. In one incident, for example, Hamas seized 200 tons of foodand supplies from the UNRWA. An August 2014 report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) found that funds allocated to Gaza for construction and relief were mishandled. Even the Palestinian Authority has condemned Hamas for the plight of Gazans. For example, the PA accused Hamas of stealing thousands of liters of fuel from local Gazan companies and then telling the media that there is a fuel shortage for propaganda purposes.
Hamas not only withholds supplies from the Palestinians in Gaza, it also diverts materials to build weapons. Cement that could be used to build homes and infrastructure is instead used by Hamas to build terror tunnels. When Israel evacuated Gaza, the expectation was that the Palestinians would use the land where Jewish settlements had been to build high-rise apartments for refugees to get them out of camps. This did not happen, however, and the refugees remain in camps today only because Hamas wants to keep them there.
Israel's "Blockade" of Gaza
In June 2007, Hamas staged a coup and seized control of Gaza from the PA. To prevent smuggling and the infiltration of terrorists, Israel and Egypt tightened their respective border crossings and placed restrictions on shipping. Though Israel is routinely condemned for enforcing the blockade, critics usually ignore the role of Egypt, which must cooperate to close the southern end of the Gaza Strip. In October 2014, and then again in March 2015, for example, Egypt demolished dozens of homes along its border with Gaza to create a buffer zone to stop smugglers and extremists from crossing in either direction.
Since the Hamas takeover, Israel has been bombarded by rockets and mortars and other terrorist attacks. When Israel has responded to these provocations, it has typically been blamed for the violence.
The international media and critics of Israel have repeatedly called the situation in Gaza a “humanitarian crisis” and blamed Israel for the conditions, ignoring the fact that Hamas has full authority within the Strip and has routinely diverts aid, medical supplies and other resources away from the public to its fighters. In one incident, for example, Hamas seized 200 tons of foodand supplies from the UNRWA. An August 2014 report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) found that funds allocated to Gaza for construction and relief were mishandled. Even the Palestinian Authority has condemned Hamas for the plight of Gazans. For example, the PA accused Hamas of stealing thousands of liters of fuel from local Gazan companies and then telling the media that there is a fuel shortage for propaganda purposes.
Hamas not only withholds supplies from the Palestinians in Gaza, it also diverts materials to build weapons. Cement that could be used to build homes and infrastructure is instead used by Hamas to build terror tunnels. When Israel evacuated Gaza, the expectation was that the Palestinians would use the land where Jewish settlements had been to build high-rise apartments for refugees to get them out of camps. This did not happen, however, and the refugees remain in camps today only because Hamas wants to keep them there.
Israel's "Blockade" of Gaza
