The story of Gaza

 The eyes of many nowadays are directed towards Gaza. Some are terrified for a terror danger to Israel, some are sorry for Gazans, few accuse Gazans for supporting terrorism, many accuse Israel for genocide. Very few bother to remember origins of the story. So let's try to tell it starting in 1948.

After the war of independence,  when 24 hours after the creation of Israel it was attacked by 6 Arab armies, Gaza fell under Egyptian rule. It was mostly settled by Arab refugees from the recent conflict. 

After 6 day war provoked by Egypt Israel took over Gaza, together with Sinai Peninsula. For subsequent years, during war of atrocity, both territories belonged to Israel treated as occupied territories. During 1973 Yom Kippur war, when Israel was suddenly attacked by Egyptian (together with Iraqi forces in some numbers) and Syrian armies Sinai Peninsula was the main battleground between Egypt and Israel. Israel kept its borders as per end of 6-day war. Few years later, in famous Camp Davies Accords, Egypt and Israel negotiated peace (formally achieved in 1979) in a formula land for peace. This time it worked and Egypt recognized Israel and Israel, in accordance with treaty returned Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1982 as a demilitarized zone. The questions few ask today: why Israel returned Sinai Peninsula and not Gaza taken at the same time? The answer is simple and important: Egypt never wanted to retrieve Gaza. They had enough problems with its inhabitants between 1948 and 1967.

 During 90ies and Oslo accords time there were some understandings between Israelis and Gazans, and Gazans often worked in Israeli kibbutzim near border. However, after first and second intifada Gaza became too much to take care of and control and in August 2005 Israel, by decision of then PM Ariel Sharon, unilaterally withdrew from Gaza. The hope was that it will be land for peace and that Gazans left to their own devices will turn to peaceful coexistence with Israel (love or friendship were not expected).

Nothing could be further from truth. Israel during withdrawal dismantled  21 settlements in Gaza taking all inhabitants (many unwilling) into Israel. The interesting story make the fate of Bedouin village of Dahaniya placed in no-man zone. Bedouins might choose where they want to live, yet treated by Gazans as traitors, because they were friendly coexisting with Israelis they asked to be resettled to Israel and so it happened - they were taken to Arad.

Israelis left some number of greenhouses and EU provided money for infrastructure and Netherlands provided seedlings. However, partially because of Israelis destroying some greenhouses, partially because of Palestinian looting after Israeli withdrawal lots of the economic power that could be used was lost.

Fatah took control over Gaza, but next year during elections Hamas won. Fatah did not recognize the elections results and in subsequent year battle of Gaza took place. Hamas members were throwing Fatah officials from high buildings and finally Hamas took power. Elections were never held again.

Hamas introduced reign of terror. Palestinians not sympathizing with it were persecuted, corruption achieved new high and most of international help (the highest per capita) were either transferred to private accounts or used for tunnel digging and weapons supply. 

In June 2006, still under Fatah rule, Hamas captured and kidnapped from Israel corporal Gilad Shalit, who spent next 5 years in Gaza and was released in October 2011 in exchange for over 1,000 Arab prisoners, among them Yahia Sinwar, sentenced for numerous murders (2 Israelis and 4 Palestinians). Sinwar was the brain behind October 7 attack. 

Between August 2005 and October 7, 2023 Hamas fired over 20,000 rockets on Israel. And however they were not able to cover long distance and - due to bomb shelters and precautions - few Israelis were killed, they made living in Gaza neighborhood miserable. During particularly heavy shelling few times IDF intervened but subsequently always retrieve to the Israel proper.

In response to constant fire from Gaza Israel imposed partial blockade in 2007, at the same time Egypt did the same.  While UN, many countries and at least 19 NGO organizations protested against Israeli blockade not one ever protested against the - exactly the same - Egyptian one.

Talking about occupation is very doubtful, as there are no Israelis in Gaza. It is forbidden for them (of course with exception of wartime) to enter Gaza. 

In years leading to October 7  both Qatar and Iran were - with silent agreement from PM Netanjahu - arming Hamas.  The rest of the story we see with our own eyes.

Yet hearing about open air prison I never cease to be amazed at it since Israel for many years was supplying Gaza for free (they were technically obliged to pay, but never did) in electricity and water, Israel was providing free of charge specialized treatments in its hospitals (people from near border kibbutzim often were volunteers driving ill Gazans to hospitals. Same people were murdered on October 7).

Moreover, the same type of restrictions as Israel put against Gaza put Egypt - minus electricity, water and help.

Please see some pictures from Gaza from before last war. Does it look like prison?