The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Friday that one person was killed and 28 others were wounded in a shooting by Israeli forces at Al-Quds hospital in Gaza, the organisation said.
On 12 September 2005, the final day of the Israeli withdrawal, international politicians such as France’s Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher warned of Gaza being turned into an open-air prison.[24][25] Four days later, Mahmoud Abbas stated to the UN General Assembly: “It is incumbent upon Israel to turn this unilateral withdrawal into a positive step in a real way. We must quickly resolve all outstanding major issues, including the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the airport and the seaport, as well as the establishment of a direct link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Without this, Gaza will remain a huge prison.”[26]
Following the disengagement, human rights groups alleged that Israel frequently blockaded Gaza in order to apply pressure on the population “in response to political developments or attacks by armed groups in Gaza on Israeli civilians or soldiers”.[27] The special envoy of the Quartet James Wolfensohn noted that “Gaza had been effectively sealed off from the outside world since the Israeli disengagement [August–September 2005], and the humanitarian and economic consequences for the Palestinian population were profound. There were already food shortages. Palestinian workers and traders to Israel were unable to cross the border”.[28]
On 15 January 2006, the Karni crossing – the sole point for exports of goods from Gaza – was closed completely for all kinds of exports.[29][30] The greenhouse project suffered a huge blow, as the harvest of high-value crops, meant to be exported for Europe via Israel, was essentially lost (with a small part of the harvest donated to local institutions).[30][31][32] Moreover, closing of Karni cut off the so-far resilient textile and furniture industries in Gaza from their source of income.[33] Starting February 2006, the Karni crossing was sporadically open for exports, but the amount of goods allowed to be exported was minuscule compared to the amount of goods imported[34] (which, in turn, barely supported Gaza’s needs).[35][34] Between 1 January and 11 May, more than 12,700 tonnes of produce were harvested in Gaza’s greenhouses, almost all of it destined for export; out of it, only 1,600 tonnes (less than 13%) were actually exported.
-Wikipedia. For context, Hamas won the elections on 25 January 2006.
In war between nations, all punishment is collective punishment. That’s how war works. Your point of view might seem more compelling if they were not currently a belligerent territory under a hostile government actively launching bloody attacks against Israel. Blockades, fortifications, restricting movement, etc., are intended to deny the enemy resources that they would otherwise use to kill Israelis.
If Gaza sues for peace then that changes things. While they remain at war, all of these actions are totally reasonable. This is about safety, not punishing civilians.
An open-air prison of Gaza’s own making, mind you. Probably an unwise idea to attack Egypt–whoops.
Stop spreading misinformation. The blockade started before Hamas took charge; it started at the same time as the Israeli disengagement ended.
Your source?
-Wikipedia. For context, Hamas won the elections on 25 January 2006.
may you link the article? I’d like to read it for myself
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip
That isn’t my point though. My point is that Gaza’s seclusion is from their own doing.
If Palestinian Terrorists never attacked Eygpt or used its humanitarian crossings to smuggle weapons and resources–Then Gaza wouldn’t be in its predicament of being a prison.
So there’s a lot wrong with this, but the short of it is: Collective punishment is a war crime.
Glad you agree. now tell that to hamas and jihadists.
In war between nations, all punishment is collective punishment. That’s how war works. Your point of view might seem more compelling if they were not currently a belligerent territory under a hostile government actively launching bloody attacks against Israel. Blockades, fortifications, restricting movement, etc., are intended to deny the enemy resources that they would otherwise use to kill Israelis.
If Gaza sues for peace then that changes things. While they remain at war, all of these actions are totally reasonable. This is about safety, not punishing civilians.