Reconsidering Israel's Gaza Blockade

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 13, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

            Arab League President Amr Moussa visited Gaza June 13 to rally international support to end Israel and Egypt’s blockade of the tiny seaside Palestinian territory.  Hamas seized control of Gaza June 14, 2007 from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian government in exile formed by the late Yasser Arafat.  Years of broken promises with failed attempts to broker a peace deal with Israel caused disenchantment with the Palestinian Authority, causing the militant group Hamas to win internationally-monitored parliamentary elections Jan. 27, 2006.  During the long years of resistance since Arafat formed the Palestine Liberation Organization May 28, 1964, splinter groups like Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine served as “bad-cop,” exacting concessions from Israel.  No terrorist group was more feared in Israel than Hamas.

            Founded in 1987 by quadriplegic Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 1987 to counter Arafat’s attempts at peacemaking, Hamas remained committed to the destruction of Israel.  When Arafat signed former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s 1978 Camp David Accords together with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, radical Palestinian groups like Hamas promised to continue the fight against the Jewish State.  No one was more dedicated to Israel’s destruction than Yassin.  After former President Bill Clinton’s last-ditch attempt at Mideast peacemaking collapsed in August 2000, Arafat declared a new Intifada or uprising.  Waves of Hamas suicide bombers massacred Israeli civilians, prompting former Israeli Prime Minister and now current Defense Minister Ehud Barak to declare war on Hamas.  Since Hamas’ hostile 2007 Gaza takeover, Israel has maintained a blockade.

             Israel’s June 1 botched inspection of a Turkish-flagged relief ship, bound to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, caused the death of nine Turkish and Palestinian civilians, Israel has been under pressure to ease the blockade.  No one really believes the blockade has kept arms from reaching Gaza.  Backed by Iran, Palestinian militants have done their utmost to ferry or truck arms into Gaza.  When former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdrew Israel forces from Gaza Sept. 12, 2005, Israel feared a radical takeover.  When Hamas rocket fire wouldn’t stop across the Israeli border, Israeli invaded Gaza Jan 3, 2009, causing around 1,400 Palestinian deaths.  Hamas eventually agreed to a truce Jan. 21, 2009 but refused to accept Israel’s right to exist or sign a formal ceasefire.  Despite stopping cross-border rocket attacks, Hamas remains at war with the Jewish State.

             Hamas’ relentless vendetta with Israel stemmed from the March 22, 2004 assassination the 73-year-old wheelchair-bound Yassin .  Only three weeks later, Israeli Defense Forces Assassianated Yassin’s successor Dr. Abdel Azziz al-Rantissi April 17, 2004, causing Hamas’ Damascus-based leader in exile Khaled Meshal to redouble efforts to destroy Israel.  However unfortunate the early-morning mishap of June 1 off the coast of Gaza, the Palestinians have a golden opportunity to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and end to the Gaza blockade.  Arab League President Moussa wants Hamas’ Gaza-based leader Ismail Hanijeh to reconcile with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.  “The siege must be lifted,” Moussa told reporters in Gaza June 13.  “All the world is now standing with the people of Palestine and people of Gaza,” distinguishing two warring Palestinian groups.

            Moussa met Haniyeh in his Shati refugee-camp in Gaza signaling a change in Haniyeh’s willingness to offer an olive branch to his Palestinian brothers in the West Bank.  “The acrimony between Gaza and the Arab nation ended today forever,” said Bassem Naim, a Hamas Cabinet minister.  Insisting on “national unity,” Moussa encouraged Haniyeh to reconcile with Abbas to complete construction projects contingent on a unified Palestine.  If Haniyeh signals his intent of reconciling with Abbas, it’s going to be difficult for conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resist ending Gaza’s blockade.  Netanyahu has been under growing pressure from U.S. President Barack Obama to make some concession toward the peace process.  Ending the blockade against building materials and humanitarian aid would be one such gesture.

            Arab League President Moussa should encourage Haniyeh to reconcile with Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.  Only then, can Palestinians speak with one voice to deal with Israel.  Haniyeh and Meshal in Damascus must accept that armed struggle against Israel is hopeless, leaving only one path to the peace table.  Haniyeh and Meshal must get over old hatreds and end their war against Israel  “The principle guiding our policy in clear—to prevent the entry of war materiel from entering Gaz and to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and non-contraband goods into the Gaza Strip,” said Netanyahu.  Continuing the war against Israel only gives Netanyahu the right of self-defense.  Joining together with Abbas, signing a ceasefire and working toward a two-state solution is the best path to building a future for Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and elsewhere.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.