The Gaza Blockade

After Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, Israel — with Egypt’s cooperation — imposed a blockade closing Gaza’s land crossings, coastline, and airspace. The movement of people and goods became subject to sweeping restrictions, including long periods in which exports were effectively banned and lists of permitted imports were tightly controlled.

The blockade devastated Gaza’s economy. UN agencies reported some of the highest unemployment rates in the world, chronic electricity shortages, and the deterioration of water and health infrastructure. UN officials and human rights organizations repeatedly described the closure as a form of collective punishment, which is prohibited under international law.

Israel maintained that the restrictions were necessary for security. Since 2008, Gaza has also endured repeated large-scale military operations, and in 2023–2024 the blockade was tightened into a full siege during the war that followed the 7 October 2023 attacks.