Gaza

The Gaza strip has been under siege for the past three years since Hamas was elected into office. The blockade of Gaza has been so severe that very few items can enter or leave the strip and the blockade has only become more stringent after the Gaza invasion by Israel which ended in January of 2009.

NewPolicy.org agrees with President Obama that the siege should be immediately lifted and that increasing the hardships of Palestinians in Gaza will only endanger Israel’s long-term security. Palestinians in Gaza are in need of vital supplies of food and reconstruction material, especially given the near total destruction to many parts of the strip after Israel’s invasion of 2009.

In addition the Gaza siege has been condemned by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch as illegal and collective punishment. Congress should work with President Obama to develop an immediate strategy of lifting the siege on Gaza and help Palestinians rebuild Gaza.