Blockade of the Gaza Strip

The Struggle for Freedom: The Gaza Blockade Explained

Imagine a world where your every move is restricted, and basic necessities are scarce. This is the reality faced by over one million Palestinians living in Gaza. The restrictions on movement and goods imposed by Israel date back to the early 1990s but have intensified significantly since Hamas took control in 2007. Is this a form of collective punishment, or a necessary security measure?

The Current State of Affairs

The blockade’s primary aim is to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, yet human rights groups argue that it is illegal and a form of collective punishment. The restrictions have led to essential goods being scarce, contributing to economic hardship and limiting freedom of movement for Gazans. Israel heavily regulates Palestinian movement through Erez, controls the population registry, and imposes heavy restrictions on imports and exports.

Key Crossings

The Rafah Border Crossing, built by Egypt in 2009, became the sole lawful crossing point between Egypt and Gaza. Since then, only three crossings remain: two controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The breaches of the Gaza-Egypt border began on January 23, 2008, after an explosion destroyed part of the former Israeli Gaza Strip barrier. The Egyptian government initially allowed Palestinians to cross but later blocked the flow of people and sealed the road from Rafah to El Arish.

Humanitarian Crisis

The restrictions have led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In 2012, Human Rights Watch reported on the situation, calling it an ‘open-air prison’ due to Israel’s blockade. The report highlighted shortages of supplies, limited access to healthcare, and high levels of poverty and unemployment. The Norwegian Refugee Council echoed this sentiment, referring to the territory as ‘the world’s largest open-air prison.’

Economic Impact

The economic effects of the blockade are devastating. Israel halted all exports from Gaza, leading to food shortages and significant economic consequences. A majority of Palestinian children suffer from psychological trauma and stunted growth due to these conditions. The Gaza Power Plant was forced to shut down due to fuel shortages, and the World Bank estimated GDP losses above 50% since 2007.

Movement Restrictions

The restrictions on movement are severe. All entry points between Israel and the Palestinian territories were closed in 2001, followed by a complete internal closure on November 14, 2001. Only people with Palestinian identity cards or foreign nationals were allowed to cross the Rafah crossing. Palestinians were banned from traveling between Gaza and the West Bank after Israel’s unilateral disengagement in September 2005.

International Response

The international community has responded with a mix of criticism and support for easing restrictions. Tony Blair praised efforts to get supplies into Gaza, while UN officials like Chris Gunness and Maxwell Gaylard criticized the blockade as insufficient. The US redirected $100 million from PA to UN, while Israel withheld tax revenue, severely affecting the PA economy.

Flotilla Raids

The most notable incident was the raid on an aid convoy in international waters by Israeli Navy forces in 2010. Nine activists were killed and dozens wounded during this operation. The MV Rachel Corrie set sail from Malta but was intercepted by Israeli naval vessels, leading to further tensions.

Recent Developments

In recent years, there have been some attempts to ease the blockade. In 2010, Israel announced a decision to relax its blockade on Gaza, allowing civilian goods to enter and expanding materials for projects under international supervision. However, these measures did not significantly improve people’s livelihoods.

Continued Criticism

The Israeli government maintains that the blockade is necessary for security reasons, but many human rights organizations argue it is illegal collective punishment. The ICRC termed Israel’s blockade of Gaza as ‘collective punishment’ in violation of international humanitarian law. Filippo Grandi noted that the blockade on Gaza is illegal and must be lifted.

Conclusion

The restrictions on movement and goods imposed by Israel have had a profound impact on the lives of Gazans, leading to economic hardship, limited freedom, and a humanitarian crisis. The international community continues to call for an end to these measures, emphasizing their illegality under international law.