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GAZA STRIP GOVERNMENT:The Gaza Strip is not recognized internationally as part of any
sovereign country. It is claimed by the Palestinian National Authority
as part of the Palestinian territories, though following the June 2007
battle of Gaza, actual control of the area is in the hands of the de
facto government dominated by Hamas. Israel, which occupied the Gaza
Strip from 1967-2005, still controls the strip's airspace, territorial
water and offshore maritime access, as well as its side of the
Gaza-Israeli border. Egypt, which occupied the Gaza Strip from 1948-1967
controls the southern border between the Gaza strip and the Sinai desert
HISTORY: Ancient history until mid 16th century (15th century BC-1517)
The first recorded mention of the city of Gaza was a reference by
Pharaoh Thutmose II (18th dynasty; 15th century BC), though the actual
habitation no doubt predates that official record. It is also mentioned
in the Amarna letters, an archive of clay tablets with diplomatic and
administrative correspondence between the Egyptian administration and
its representatives in Canaan and Amurru in the New Kingdom. The first
substantive mention of Gaza in the Bible is in Joshua 10:41, which took
place around 1451 B.C. according to Ussher's chronology.
Because of its strategic position on the ancient trade route of Via
Maris, linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, Anatolia and
Mesopotamia, Gaza experienced little peace in antiquity. Throughout its
history it was a prosperous trade center, sitting as it does on the
ancient Sea Road.
The area was under Egyptian occupation for over 300 years when the
Philistines took control and settled the city and surrounding area. Gaza
became an important Philistine trading center and part of the Pentapolis
(league of five cities).
The Bible makes a reference to Gaza as the place where Samson was
delivered into bondage by Delilah and where he died while toppling the
temple of the god Dagon. It fell to the Israelite King David in
1000 BC.
The area fell to the Assyrians in 732 BC, to the Egyptians, to the
Babylonians in 586 BC, Persians in 525 BC, and the Macedonians.
Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great met stiff resistance there in 332
BC. After conquering it, he sold its inhabitants into slavery.
In 145 BC Gaza was conquered by Jonathan the Hasmonean (Brother of Judah
the Maccabee). In Hellenistic and Roman times the harbour, about 3 miles
(5 km) from the city proper, was called Neapolis (Greek: “New City”).
The Via Maris (purple), King's Highway (red), and other ancient
Levantine trade routes, c. 1300 BCIt was conquered by Arabs in the 630s
after a siege during which the Jewish population of the city defended it
alongside the Byzantine garrison. Believed to be the site where
Muhammad's great grandfather was buried, the city became an important
Islamic center. In the 12th century, Gaza was taken by Christian
Crusaders; it returned to Muslim control in 1187.
Ottoman and British control (1517-1948)
In 1517 Gaza fell to the Ottomans and was part of the Ottoman Empire
until the First World War.
Starting in the early 19th century, Gaza was culturally dominated by
neighboring Egypt. Though part of the Ottoman Empire, a large number of
its residents were Egyptians (and their descendants) who had fled
political turmoil.
The region served as a battlefield during the First World War (1914-18).
The Gaza Strip was taken by the British in the Third Battle of Gaza on 7
November 1917.
Following World War I, Gaza became part of the British Mandate of
Palestine under the authority of the League of Nations.
Jews were present in Gaza until 1929, when a long-running dispute
between Muslims and Jews over access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem
escalated and erupted into a series of violent demonstrations and riots
and forced the Gaza Jews to leave the area. After that the British
prohibited Jews from living in the Gaza area, though some Jews returned
and, in 1946, established kibbutz Kfar Darom near the Egyptian border.
British rule of Palestine ended with the Israeli War of Independence in
1948.
Egyptian occupation (1948-67)
Main article: Occupation of the Gaza Strip by Egypt
According to the terms of the 1947 United Nations partition plan, the
Gaza area was to become part of a new Palestinian Arab state. Following
the dissolution of the British mandate of Palestine and 1947-1948 Civil
War in Palestine, Israel declared its independence in May 1948. The
Egyptian army invaded the area from the south, starting the 1948
Arab-Israeli War.
The Gaza Strip as it is known today was the product of the subsequent
1949 Armistice Agreements between Egypt and Israel, often referred to as
the Green Line. Egypt occupied the Strip from 1949 (except for four
months of Israeli occupation during the 1956 Suez Crisis) until 1967.
The Strip's population was greatly augmented by an influx of Palestinian
Arab refugees who fled or were expelled from Israel during the fighting.
Towards the end of the war, the All-Palestine Government (Arabic: حكومة
عموم فلسطين hukumat 'umum Filastin) was proclaimed in Gaza City on 22
September 1948 by the Arab League. It was conceived partly as an Arab
League attempt to limit the influence of Transjordan over the
Palestinian issue. The government was not recognized by Transjordan or
any non-Arab country. It was little more than a façade under Egyptian
control, had negligible influence or funding, and subsequently moved to
Cairo. Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip or Egypt were issued
All-Palestine passports until 1959, when Gamal Abdul Nasser, President
of Egypt, annulled the All-Palestine government by decree.
Egypt never annexed the Gaza Strip, but instead treated it as a
controlled territory and administered it through a military
governor. The refugees were never offered Egyptian citizenship.
During the Sinai campaign of November 1956, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai
Peninsula were overrun by Israeli troops. International pressure soon
forced Israel to withdraw.
Israeli occupation (1967-2005)
Israel occupied the Gaza Strip again in June 1967 during the Six-Day
War. The military occupation lasted for 38 years, until 2005. However,
Israel retains control of air space, territorial waters, offshore
maritime access, the population registry, entry of foreigners, imports
and exports as well as the tax system.
During the period of Israeli occupation, Israel created a settlement
bloc, Gush Katif in the south west corner of the Strip near Rafah and
the Egyptian border. In total Israel created 21 settlements in the Gaza
Strip, comprising some 20% of the total terroritory. Besides ideological
reasons for being there, these settlements also served Israel's security
concerns. The Gaza Strip remained under Israeli military administration
until 1994. During that period the military administration was also
responsible for the maintenance of civil facilities and services.
In March 1979 Israel and Egypt signed the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.
Among other things, the treaty provided for the withdrawal by Israel of
its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula which Israel had
captured during the Six-Day War. The final status of the Gaza Strip as
with relations between Israel and Palestinians was not dealt with in the
treaty. The treaty did settle the international border between Gaza
Strip and Egypt. Egypt renounced all territorial claims to the region
beyond the international border.
In May 1994, following the Palestinian-Israeli agreements known as the
Oslo Accords, a phased transfer of governmental authority to the
Palestinians took place. Much of the Strip (except for the settlement
blocs and military areas) came under Palestinian control. The Israeli
forces left Gaza City and other urban areas, leaving the new Palestinian
Authority to administer and police the Strip. The Palestinian Authority,
led by Yasser Arafat, chose Gaza City as its first provincial
headquarters. In September 1995, Israel and the PLO signed a second
peace agreement extending the Palestinian Authority to most West Bank
towns. The agreement also established an elected 88-member Palestinian
National Council, which held its inaugural session in Gaza in March
1996.
The PA rule of the Gaza Strip and West Bank under leadership of Arafat
suffered from serious mismanagement and corruption. Exorbitant bribes
were demanded for allowing goods to pass in and out of the Gaza Strip,
while heads of the Preventive Security Service apparatus profited from
their involvement in the gravel import and cement and construction
industries, like the Great Arab Company for Investment and Development,
the al-Motawaset Company and the al-Sheik Zayid construction project.
The Second Intifada broke out in September 2000. In February 2005, the
Israeli government voted to implement a unilateral disengagement plan
from the Gaza Strip. The plan began to be implemented on 15 August 2005
(the day after Tisha B'av) and was completed on 12 September 2005. Under
the plan, all Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip (and four in the
West Bank) and the nearby Erez bloc were dismantled with the removal of
all 9,000 Israeli settlers (most of them in the Gush Katif settlement
area in the Strip's southwest) and military bases. On 12 September 2005
the Israeli cabinet formally declared an end to Israeli military rule in
the Gaza Strip. To avoid any allegation that it was still in occupation
of any part of the Gaza Strip, Israel also withdrew from the Philadelphi
Route, which is a narrow strip adjacent to the Strip's border with
Egypt, after Egypt's agreement to secure its side of the border. Under
the Oslo Accords the Philadelphi Route was to remain under Israeli
control, to prevent the smuggling of materials (such as ammunition) and
people across the border with Egypt. With Egypt agreeing to patrol its
side of the border, it was hoped that the objective would be achieved.
Palestinian Authority control (2005-2007)
In accordance with the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority took over
the administrative authority of the Gaza Strip (other than the
settlement blocs and military areas) in 1994. After the complete Israeli
withdrawal of Israeli settlers and military from the Gaza Strip on 12
September 2005, the Palestinian Authority had complete administrative
authority in the Gaza Strip.
Since the Israeli withdrawal the Rafah Border Crossing has been
supervised by EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah under an Agreement
finalised in November 2005.
Israel continues to assert control over activities that rely on transit
through Israel, as well as air space over and sea access to ports in
Gaza. Israel approves all immigration to and emigration from Gaza via
Israel, as well as entry by foreigners via Israel, imports and exports
via Israel, and collection and reimbursement of value-added tax in
Israel.
Palestinians and others maintain that the Israeli occupation is not over
because of this Israeli control -- instead of a military occupation,
they are now in a state of siege. The Israeli human rights organization
B'tselem said in November 2006 that "the broad scope of Israeli control
in the Gaza Strip creates a strong case for the claim that Israel's
occupation of the Gaza Strip continue." University of London, School
of Oriental and African Studies, law professor Iain Scobbie noted in
2006 that "Israel retains absolute authority over Gaza’s airspace and
territorial sea. It is manifestly exercising governmental authority in
these areas.... it is clear that Israeli withdrawal of land forces did
not terminate occupation." And according to some Palestinians,
Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip continued. "They control the
water, the sky and the passages. How can you say occupation is over?"
said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in 2005. Similar viewpoints
have been presented by many other Palestinian organizations and
leaders. The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights also argues that the Gaza
Strip remains occupied by Israel.
Prior to Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the United States
considered the Gaza Strip to be an Israel-occupied territory. Following
the withdrawal, no official US government statement has been made on the
status of the Strip. However, the CIA World Factbook (an official U.S.
government publication), which was last updated in 2007, continues to
list the Gaza Strip as an Israeli-occupied territory.
On the other hand, Israel and others claim that Gaza is no longer
occupied as it doesn't exercise effective control or authority over any
land or institutions in the Gaza Strip. According to the The
Hague convention of 1907 'Territory is considered occupied when it is
actually placed under the authority of the hostile army', and 'the
occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been
established and can be exercised.' It also says that '(The occupying
power) must safeguard the capital of these properties (like public
buildings , real estate, and other land), and administer them in
accordance with the rules of usufruct.' It seems clear that Israel is in
no such position regarding the Gaza Strip, as the IDF doesn't control
any part of Gaza anymore. Israel doesn't administer any property
belonging to Gazans (besides controlling all imports and exports) nor
any means of transportation (except for the naval blockade). The Hague
convention also implies that occupation is a condition applying between
states. When the Israeli army left Gaza, an unclear legal situation was
created, as Gaza doesn't belong to any sovereign state. Moreover, some
argue that, if Israel would still occupy Gaza, this would mean it has
the right or even the duty to maintain law and order there.
Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. However, when a
Hamas-controlled government was formed, continuing to refuse to
recognise Israel, renounce violence and agree to honour agreements
previously made by the PLO, Israel, the United States, Canada, and the
European Union froze all funds to the Hamas-controlled government. They
view Hamas as a terrorist organization.
In December 2006, news reports indicated that a number of Palestinians
were leaving the Gaza Strip, due to political disorder and economic
stagnation there.
In January 2007, fighting continued between Hamas and Fatah, without any
progress towards resolution or reconciliation. The worst clashes
occurred in the northern Gaza Strip, where Gen. Muhammed Gharib, a
senior commander of the Fatah-dominated Preventative Security Force, was
killed when a rocket hit his home. Gharib's two daughters and two
bodyguards were also killed in the attack, which was carried out by
Hamas gunmen.
At the end of January 2007, it appeared that a newly-negotiated truce
between Fatah and Hamas was starting to take hold . However, after a
few days, new fighting broke out. Fatah fighters stormed a
Hamas-affiliated university in the Gaza Strip. Officers from Abbas'
presidential guard battled Hamas gunmen guarding the Hamas-led Interior
Ministry.
In May 2007, the deal between Hamas and Fatah appeared to be weaker, as
new fighting broke out between the factions. This was considered a major
setback. Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi, who had been considered a
moderate civil servant acceptable to both factions, resigned due to what
he termed harmful behavior by both factions.
Fighting spread in the Gaza Strip with both factions attacking vehicles
and facilities of the other side. In response to constant attacks by
rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Israel launched an air strike which
destroyed a building used by Hamas. Some Palestinians said the violence
could bring the end of the Fatah-Hamas coalition government, and
possibly the end of the Palestinian authority.
Hamas spokeman Moussa Abu Marzouk placed the blame for the worsening
situation in the Strip upon Israel, stating that the constant pressure
of economic sanctions upon Gaza resulted in the "real explosion".
Expressions of concerns were received from many Arab leaders, with many
offering to try to help by doing some diplomatic work between the two
factions. One journalist wrote an eyewitness account stating:
Today I have seen people shot before my eyes, I heard the screams of
terrified women and children in a burning building, and I argued with
gunmen who wanted to take over my home. I have seen a lot in my years as
a journalist in Gaza, but this is the worst it's been.
Hamas control (2007-Present)
In June 2007, the Palestinian Civil War between Hamas (Islamic
Resistance Movement) and Fatah (Palestine Liberation Movement)
intensified. Hamas routed Fatah, and by 14 June 2007, the Gaza Strip was
completely overrun by Hamas, which now effectively controlled the Gaza
Strip and proclaimed itself to be the legitimate government of the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas responded by declaring a state of emergency, dissolving the unity
government and forming a new government without Hamas participation. PNA
security forces in the West Bank arrested a number of Hamas members and
closed some Hamas offices.(citation needed)
After Hamas' victory in June, it started ousting Fatah-linked officials
from positions of power and authority in the Strip (such as government
positions, security services, universities, newspapers etc) and strove
to enforce law in the Strip by progressively removing guns from the
hands of peripheral militias, clans, and criminal groups, and gaining
control of smuggling tunnels. According to Amnesty International, under
Hamas rule, newspapers have been closed down and journalists have been
harassed. Fatah demonstrations have been forbidden or suppressed, as in
the case of a large demonstration on the anniversary of Yasser Arafat's
death, which resulted in the deaths of seven people by Hamas, after
protesters hurled stones at Hamas security forces.
Christians are being threatened and assaulted in the Gaza Strip. The
owner of a Christian bookshop was abducted and murdered,, and on
February 15, 2008, the Christian Youth Organization's library in Gaza
City was bombed. Hamas condemns these attacks.
Since the refusal by Israel and its allies to recognize the democratic
election of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the EU Border Monitors at the Rafah
Crossing have not been able to perform their functions under the
Agreement, citing security concerns, resulting in the Rafah Crossing
being mostly closed. The only land access into the Strip to Israel is
via the Erez and Karni crossings. Meanwhile Israeli and Egyptian
security reports claim that Hamas continued smuggling in large
quantities of explosives and arms from Egypt through tunnels. Egyptian
security forces uncovered 60 tunnels in 2007.
While clamping down on lawlessness in the Strip, Hamas and other armed
groups have continued to fire Qassam rockets from the Strip across the
border into Israel, targeting nearby Israeli localities. According to
Israel, since the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip until the end of
January 2008, 697 rockets and 822 mortar bombs have been fired at
Israeli towns. In response, Israel targeted Qassam launchers and
military targets and on September 19, 2007, declared the Gaza Strip a
hostile entity, to make it possible to cut fuel and electricity
supplies. In January 2008 the situation escalated and Israel curtailed
travel from Gaza and entry of goods, and decided to cut fuel supplies to
the Strip on January 19, resulting in power shortages. This brought
charges that Israel was inflicting collective punishment on the Gaza
population, leading to international condemnation. Despite multiple
reports from within the Strip that food and other essentials were in
extremely short supply, Israel countered that Gaza had enough food and
energy supplies for weeks. In early March 2008, air strikes and
ground incursions into the Strip by the IDF led to the deaths of over
110 Palestinians — mostly civilians, and extensive damage to Jabalia.
CURRENT SITUATION:Abbas' government has won widespread international support. Egypt,
Jordan, and Saudi Arabia said in late June 2007 that the West Bank-based
Cabinet formed by Abbas was the sole legitimate Palestinian government,
and Egypt moved its embassy from Gaza to the West Bank.. The Hamas
government in the Gaza Strip faces international diplomatic and economic
isolation.
However, both Saudi Arabia and Egypt support reconciliation and the
forming of a new unity government, and press Abbas to start serious
talks with Hamas. Abbas has always conditioned this on Hamas ceding
control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas is
supported by Syria and Iran, and is believed to have brought in large
sums of money from the latter. Hamas fighters are also believed to have
received training in Iran. Hamas has been invited to and has visited a
number of countries, including Russia, and in the USA and EU countries,
opposition parties and politicians have called for a dialog with Hamas
and an end to the economic sanctions.
On January 23, 2008, after months of preparation during which the steel
reinforcement of the border barrier was weakened, Hamas destroyed
several parts of the wall dividing Gaza and Egypt in the town of Rafah.
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans crossed the border into Egypt seeking
food and supplies. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered his troops
to allow the Palestinians in, due to the crisis, but to verify that they
did not bring weapons back. Egypt arrested and later released
several armed Hamas militants in the Sinai who presumably wanted to
infiltrate into Israel. At the same time, Israel increased its state of
alert along the length of the Israel-Egypt Sinai border, and warned its
citizens to leave Sinai "without delay". The EU Border Monitors have
indicated their readiness to return to monitor the border, should Hamas
guarantee their safety; while the Palestinian Authority has demanded
that Egypt deal only with the Authority in negotiations relating to
borders. Israel has eased up some influx of goods and medical supplies
to the strip, but it has curtailed electricity by 5% in one of its ten
lines, while Hamas and Egypt have shored up some of the gaping holes
between the two areas. The first attempts by Egypt to reclose the
border were met by violent clashes with Gaza gunmen, but after 12 days
the borders were sealed again. In mid-February there had still been
no agreement reached between the parties on conditions for reopening the Rafah crossing. In February 2008 an Haaretz poll indicated that 64%
of Israelis favour their government holding direct talks with Hamas in
Gaza about a cease-fire and to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, an
Israeli soldier who was abducted in a cross border raid by Palestinian
militants on 25 June 2006 and has been held hostage since.
In February 2008, Israeli-Palestinian fighting intensified with rockets
launched at Israeli cities and Israel attacking Palestinian militants.
An increase in rocket attacks lead to a heavy Israeli military action on
March 1, resulting in over 100 Palestinians being killed according to
BBC News, as well as 2 Israeli soldiers. Israeli human rights group
B'Tselem estimated that 45 of those killed were not involved in
hostilities, and 15 were minors
GEOGRAPHY:The Gaza Strip is located in the Middle East (at 31°25′N 34°20′ECoordinates:
31°25′N 34°20′E). It has a 51 kilometers (32 mi) border with Israel, and
an 11 km border with Egypt, near the city of Rafah. Khan Yunis is
located 7 kilometers (4 mi) northeast of Rafah, and several towns around
Deir el-Balah are located along the coast between it and Gaza City. Beit
Lahia and Beit Hanoun are located to the north and northeast of Gaza
City, respectively. The Gush Katif bloc of Israeli localities used to
exist on the sand dunes adjacent to Rafah and Khan Yunis, along the
southwestern edge of the 40 kilometers (25 mi) Mediterranean coastline.
Gaza strip has a temperate climate, with mild winters, and dry, hot
summers subject to drought. The terrain is flat or rolling, with dunes
near the coast. The highest point is Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda), at 105
meters (344 ft) above sea level. Natural resources include arable land
(about a third of the strip is irrigated), and recently discovered
natural gas. Environmental issues include desertification; salination of
fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation;
and depletion and contamination of underground water resources.
The Strip currently holds the oldest known remains of a man-made
bonfire, and some of the world's oldest dated human skeletons. It
occupies territory similar to that of ancient Philistia, and is
occasionally known by that name.
DEMOGRAPHICS:In 2007 approximately 1.4 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip,
of whom almost 1.0 million are UN-registered refugees. The majority of
the Palestinians are descendants of refugees who fled from their homes
during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The Strip's population has continued
to increase since that time, one of the main reasons being a total
fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman. In a ranking by total
fertility rate, this places Gaza 19th of 222 regions.
The vast majority of the population are Sunni Muslims, with an estimated
2,000 to 3,000 Christians. The Christian population has been shrinking
since Hamas' takeover, due to tensions with the Muslim community and
economic sanctions imposed by Israel. In December 2007, Israel has
permitted 400 Gaza Christians to travel through Israel to Bethlehem for
Christmas. While they are strictly travel permits, many Christian
families are taking the opportunity to settle in the West Bank, despite
the illegality.
One of the largest foreign communities in the Gaza Strip was the
approximately 500 women from the former Soviet Union. During the Soviet
era, the Communist Party subsidized university studies for thousands of
students from Yemen, Egypt, Syria and the territories. Some of them got
married during their studies and brought their Russian and Ukrainian
wives back home. However, over half of them were able to leave the Strip
via the Erez crossing to Amman within days of Hamas' takeover. From
there they have flown back to Eastern Europe.
ECONOMY:Economic output in the Gaza Strip declined by about one-third between
1992 and 1996. This downturn has been variously attributed to corruption
and mismanagement by Yasser Arafat, and to Israeli closure policies—the
imposition of generalized border closures which disrupted previously
established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and
the Strip. A serious negative social effect of this downturn was the
emergence of high unemployment.
Israel's use of comprehensive closures decreased during the next few
years and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact
of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian
goods and labor into Israel. These changes fueled an almost
three-year-long economic recovery in the Gaza Strip. Recovery ended with
the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada in the last quarter of 2000. The
al-Aqsa Intifada triggered tight IDF closures of the border with Israel,
as well as frequent curbs on traffic in Palestinian self-rule areas,
severely disrupting trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even more
severely in early 2002, internal turmoil and Israeli military measures
in Palestinian Authority areas resulted in the destruction of capital
plant and administrative structure, widespread business closures, and a
sharp drop in GDP. Another major factor has been the decline of income
earned due to reduction in the number of Gazans permitted entry to work
in Israel. After the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the flow of a limited
number of workers into Israel again resumed, although Israel has stated
its intention to reduce or end such permits due to the victory of Hamas
in the 2006 parliamentary elections.
The Israeli settlers of Gush Katif built greenhouses and experimented
with new forms of agriculture. These greenhouses also provided
employment for many hundred Gazan Palestinians. When Israel withdrew
from the Gaza Strip in the Summer of 2005, the greenhouses were
purchased with money raised by former World Bank president James
Wolfensohn, and given to the Palestinian people to jump-start their
economy. However, the effort faltered due to limited water supply,
inability to export produce due to Israeli border restrictions, and
corruption in the Palestinian Authority. Most of the greenhouses were
subsequently looted or destroyed.
According to the CIA World Factbook, GDP in 2001 declined 35% to a per
capita income of $625 a year, and 60% of the population is now below the
poverty line. Gaza Strip industries are generally small family
businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and
mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some
small-scale modern industries in an industrial center. Israel supplies
the Gaza Strip with electricity. The main agricultural products are
olives, citrus, vegetables, Halal beef, and dairy products. Primary
exports are citrus and cut flowers, while primary imports are food,
consumer goods, and construction materials. The main trade partners of
the Gaza Strip are Israel, Egypt, and the West Bank.
Before the second Palestinian uprising broke out in September 2000,
around 25,000 workers from the Gaza Strip used to work in Israel every
day.
Israel, the United States, Canada, and the European Union have frozen
all funds to the Palestinian government after the formation of a
Hamas-controlled government after its victory in the 2006 Palestinian
legislative election. They view the group as a terrorist organization,
and have pressured Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and
agree to past agreements. Since Israel's withdrawal and its subsequent
blockade, the gross domestic product of the Gaza Strip has been
crippled. The enterprise and industry of the former Jewish villages has
been impaired, and the previously established work relationships between
Israel and the Gaza Strip have been disrupted. Job opportunities in
Israel for Gaza Palestinians have been largely lost. Prior to
disengagement, 120,000 Palestinians from Gaza were employed in Israel or
in joint projects. Only about 20,000 have been able to keep these
jobs.(citation needed)
After the seizure by Hamas militias of the Gaza Strip on 14 June 2007,
all contact between the outside world and the Strip has been severed.
The only goods permitted into the Strip through the land crossings are
goods of a humanitarian nature.
HEALTH:A study carried out by Johns Hopkins University (USA) and Al-Quds
University (in Jerusalem) for CARE International in late 2002 revealed
very high levels of dietary deficiency among the Palestinian population.
The study found that 17.5% of children aged 6–59 months suffered from
chronic malnutrition. 53% of women of reproductive age and 44% of
children were found to be anemic. In the aftermath of the Israeli
withdrawal of August and September 2005, the healthcare system in Gaza
continues to face severe challenges. After the Hamas takeover of
the Gaza Strip and the subsequent Israeli declaration of Gaza Strip as a
"hostile entity", the health conditions in Gaza Strip faces new
challenges exacerbated by the intensified Israeli closure. The WHO
expressed its concerns about the consequences of the Palestinian
internal political fragmentation; the socioeconomic decline; military
actions; and the Physical, psychological and economic isolation on the
health of the population in Gaza.
Gazans requiring medical care in Israeli hospitals have to apply for a
medical permit. In 2007, Israel granted 7176 permits and denied 1627.
Two women who had received permits were arrested at the crossing when it
was found they had plans to blow themselves up in the Israeli hospital.
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION:The Gaza Strip has a small, poorly developed road network. It also had a
single standard gauge railway line running the entire length of the
Strip from north to south along its center; however, it is abandoned, in
disrepair, and little trackage remains. The line once connected to the
Egyptian railway system to the south, as well as the Israeli system to
the north.
The strip's one port was never completed after the outbreak of the al-Aqsa
Intifada. Its airport, the Gaza International Airport, opened on 24
November 1998, as part of agreements stipulated in the Oslo II Accord
and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The airport was closed in
October 2000 by Israeli orders, and its runway was destroyed by the
Israel Defense Forces in December 2001. It has since been renamed Yasser
Arafat International Airport.
The Gaza Strip has rudimentary land line telephone service provided by
an open-wire system, as well as extensive mobile telephone services
provided by PalTel (Jawwal), or Israeli providers such as Cellcom. Gaza
is serviced by four internet service providers that now compete for ADSL
and dial-up customers. Most Gaza households have a radio and a TV
(70%+), and approximately 20% have a personal computer.(citation needed)
People living in Gaza have access to FTA satellite programs, broadcast
TV from the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel
Broadcasting Authority, and the Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
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