re: #220 imp_62

re: #221 Obdicut

Hamas controls the smuggling into Gaza. With the blockade in place only Hamas has the power to make economic decisions within Gaza. Want to build a house? You need Hamas. Want to start a factory? You need Hamas.

The economic sanctions on Gaza also make a normally functioning economy impossible. Unemployment is at 40%. No new businesses are being started. Right now if you want a job in Gaza, you need Hamas. Because no one else is in a position to hire. This makes Hamas stronger in relation to other power blocs within Gaza.

In absolute terms the blockade weakens Hamas, it prevents them from rebuilding and rearming. It just weakens the rest of Gazan society more. If we take the west bank as an example of what Gaza would look like without the blockade (this is somewhat problematic but better than nothing), unemployment would drop from 40% to 16% and the percent of people living below the poverty line would decrease from 70% of the population to 40% of the population.