re: #238 BishopX

The blockade against Hamas would not have been necessary had Hamas not: 1) begun a suicide bombing campaign requiring the construction of checkpoints and a security fence; (2) begun a rocket war against Israel because the security fence was so successful in thwarting the suicide bombers.

Now, the situation in Gaza isn’t nearly as dire as you’re making it out to be. Hamas does control much of the economic activity in Gaza - but that’s because Hamas forcibly threw Fatah out of Gaza and sought to impose its socio-political will on the territory. Hamas sought to carry out what it saw as its mandate in Gaza per the 2005 elections (new elections are supposedly scheduled for later this year as part of a rapproachment between Hamas and Fatah). Israel, seeing how Hamas has carried out a terror war against Israel, was not going to allow Hamas the means with which to regroup and rearm using materials Israel was allowing and sending into Gaza.

Moreover, following Mubarak’s ouster from Egypt, the new government indicated that it would open the border with Gaza and some additional materials are now getting through, but the Egyptian government has shut the door once again and the smuggling tunnels are quite the profit center for the terror group.