2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
On 9 October 2023, Israel intensified the blockade of the Gaza Strip after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ensuing Israel–Hamas war.[1] Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a "total blockade",[2] blocking the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity.[3] Egypt who controls Rafah Border Crossing has supported the blockade by not allowing Palestinians to enter Egypt.[4]
Not to be confused with Siege of Gaza City.
Israel stated that the blockade would not be lifted until the hostages abducted by Hamas are returned,[5] which has been criticized as collective punishment and an apparent war crime.[6] While Hamas stated that it would release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners by Israel.[7] Later, Gallant changed his position of a complete blockade.[8] The first supplies entered on 21 October 2023.[9] The blockade exacerbated Gaza's humanitarian crisis.[10]
In January 2024, Israeli authorities blocked 56% of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza.[11] On 9 February 2024, UNRWA's director Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel had blocked food for 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza.[12]
The blockade has contributed to imminent famine conditions in the Gaza Strip, which was exacberated by Israeli airstrikes targeting food infrastructure and restrictions on humanitarian aid.[13] In a number of incidents, Israeli protesters, including settlers, blocked aid trucks carrying humanitarian aid heading towards the Gaza Strip, and in some cases attacked them.[14][15]
Background
The Gaza Strip has been under a blockade by both Israel and Egypt since 2005.[16][17] Several border crossings have existed from the Gaza Strip along the border of Israel and Egypt.[18] Israel regularly granted permission for a quota of Gaza Palestinians, numbering between 15,000 and 21,000, to work daily within its borders.[19][20][21]
On 7 October 2023, militants led by Hamas, a Palestinian political and military organization and other Palestinian groups, launched its biggest assault across the Gaza–Israel barrier into southern Israel, as well as firing rockets into Israel.[22] Israel subsequently declared war on the militants,[23] calling up 300,000 reservists to execute Israel's military operation.[24] Following the attack, considered the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust,[25][26][27]