Gaza: Blockade, Wars, and Crisis

From Withdrawal to Blockade

In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Israel framed this as a concession; critics noted that Israel retained control of Gaza's borders, airspace, coastline, and population registry — leading the UN to continue classifying Gaza as occupied territory.

In 2006, Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections — an outcome that surprised nearly everyone, including Hamas itself. After a violent power struggle with Fatah in 2007, Hamas took full control of Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas retained control of the West Bank.

Israel (with Egyptian cooperation) imposed a blockade on Gaza starting in 2007, restricting the movement of people and goods. Israel described the blockade as a security measure against a hostile entity; the UN and human rights organizations documented its devastating humanitarian impact, with periodic UN reports questioning whether Gaza remained 'livable.' By 2020, the UN's own prediction that Gaza would become 'uninhabitable' by 2020 had largely come true: clean water was available for only a few hours daily, unemployment exceeded 45%, and electricity was intermittent.

Repeated Wars and October 7

Gaza has been the site of multiple Israeli military operations:

• Operation Cast Lead (2008-09): Approximately 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed
• Operation Pillar of Defense (2012): Approximately 170 Palestinians and 6 Israelis killed
• Operation Protective Edge (2014): Over 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis killed
• May 2021 escalation: 256 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people — the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Militants committed atrocities including mass killings at a music festival and in kibbutzim, sexual violence, and the taking of approximately 250 hostages.

Israel's military response has been the most destructive in Gaza's history. By early 2024, over 30,000 Palestinians had been killed according to Gaza health authorities (a source the UN considers generally reliable), with the majority being women and children. Much of Gaza's built environment, including hospitals, schools, and residential areas, has been destroyed. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent genocide and ensure humanitarian access — though it did not make a final ruling on whether genocide was occurring.