Amid a fast-changing world dictated by Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US president, other issues with devastating daily consequences are relegated to the margins of the world’s attention. This seems to be the fate of the Gaza Strip and its 1.9 million inhabitants, most of them refugees. This neglect of people living in appalling conditions is not only immoral, but bound to spell a deepening humanitarian crisis and war.
The history of the place since 1948 is one of prolonged misery, exacerbated by nearly 50 years of Israeli control. Israel may have checked out more than a decade ago, but it has never left. Through land, sea and air blockades it controls — some may say strangles — development inside this tiny strip, which suffers from one of the highest population densities in the world.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which was assigned to provide humanitarian relief and development, last week reported mounting frustration, desperation and anger among the people of Gaza due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
They are the victims of a combination of Israel’s cruel blockade (to which Egypt contributes), Hamas’ iron-fisted rule, a Palestinian Authority (PA) that has negligible leverage in Gaza, and an international community that shows little interest. Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, the place has experienced three rounds of hostilities with Israel that killed and maimed thousands of Palestinians and shattered Gaza’s infrastructure.
Symbolically the settlements are the manifestation of the Israeli occupation and the suppression of the political and civil rights of the Palestinians.
Yossi Mekelberg
Israel’s blockade allows very limited entry of some of the most essential materials required to rebuild the houses, schools, hospitals and infrastructure destroyed by Israeli attacks. The movement of people and goods is restricted, leaving the Gazan economy at the mercy of limited economic activity, smuggling and international aid.
For the current Israeli government, Hamas is an enemy that is monolithic in its hate for Israel, so there cannot be any compromise with it. This Israeli supposition deserves a more in-depth examination. Even if it is true, surely it cannot justify punishing an entire population. Inflicting extreme misery on them contravenes international law and violates any moral standards. It is also self-defeating, as it feeds extremism and hatred toward Israel.
A new report by Israeli human rights organization Gisha, which monitors conditions in Gaza, depicts a very gloomy picture. In recent weeks, most Gazans have had electricity for no more than three to four hours per day. This affects all aspects of life, harming health, education and any economic activity.
The water and sanitation conditions are reaching a state of disrepair. Nearly all water from the coastal aquifer is unsuitable for drinking or cooking, and levels of nitrate are up to eight times higher than the maximum level specified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Without any air or sea ports, Gaza relies on access by land for the movement of people and goods. However, this is restricted by Israel to levels that perpetuate unemployment and poverty, limit access to adequate health care, and have a devastating psychological impact on young and old alike.
It is hard to see the logic or long-term strategy of Israel’s government in its attitude toward Gaza. It seems to learn all the wrong lessons from its past mistakes. If building settlements in Gaza in the first place was not bad enough, withdrawing unilaterally sowed the seeds of a Hamas election victory and a complete takeover of the territory. Since then, Israel has seemed hell-bent on punishing the people of Gaza, first for electing Hamas, then for not toppling it.
The Israeli government’s heavy-handed policy toward the Palestinians defies what many in the country’s senior security establishment suggest best serves Israel’s national interest. The current government believes only fences, walls and military might can ensure Israeli security.
However, the more sound-minded would argue that restoring some normality is not only the right thing do for the Palestinians, but would also reduce the motivation to support extremism and employ violence in confronting Israel.
Allowing access to construction material in bigger quantities, considerably reducing restrictions on movement inside and between Gaza and the outside world, and allowing communication with the rest of the world could be steps in the right direction.
* Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations at Regent’s University London, where he is head of the International Relations and Social Sciences Program. He is also an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. He is a regular contributor to the international written and electronic media.
