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Siege of Gaza squeezes life out of the land


On any clear-eyed, practical view the continuing blockade can only contribute to more suffering, desperation and hatred

Ian Black

May 13, 2008

The Gaza Strip is the elephant in the room of the Middle East's longest-running crisis, effectively ignored by all participants in the so-called Israeli-Palestinian peace process despite the knowledge that without its involvement, peace in any meaningful sense is simply unattainable.

George Bush's latest (and probably last) swing through the region, first to Israel to take part in its 60th anniversary celebrations, then on to Arab allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt, will not change that. Israel, backed by the US, has opposed any dealings with the Islamist movement Hamas since it won free and fair elections in January 2006, and has implemented a punishing blockade of Gaza and its 1.5 million people since the Hamas takeover of the strip from the Palestinian Authority (PA) last June.

The basis for the boycott, supported by the EU and Britain as well as, in effect, by the PA and its Arab supporters, are the "Quartet" conditions that Hamas has failed to fulfill: end violence, recognise Israel, and respect existing peace agreements (signed by the PLO).

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