Those who try to justify Hamas’s violence in response to restrictions on access to and from the Gaza Strip do not know its history. Restrictions on Gaza have not led to violence; Violence made restrictions necessary.

In 2005, Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip, even cleaning up the cemeteries. Although the withdrawal was unilateral, at the time Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) signed a movement and access agreement. This included the establishment of an international border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The crossing was controlled by the PA, with the supervision of observers from the European Union.

During the 19 months of operation of the crossing, almost 450,000 people passed through it. In 2007, Hamas took control and violently eliminated the PA. European observers, fearing for their safety, left and the agreements were null and void. The agreement, which included provisions to build a seaport, airport, transit between Gaza and the West Bank, was marred by Hamas violence.

This was not the first time that the movement of residents in Gaza was sabotaged. Based on previous agreements with Israel, an international airport operated in Gaza between 1998 and 2001, with flights to Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. But the violent outbreak of the second Intifada led to its closure. Egypt has also recognized the need to impose border restrictions to prevent arms smuggling. Even PA President Abbas has spoken in favor of preventing weapons from reaching Hamas.

Over the years, Israel has made efforts to soften the impact of the restrictions. In 2010, it adopted a new policy allowing all goods to enter Gaza, as long as they were exclusively civilian goods that could not be used for terrorist activities.

In the months leading up to October 7, Israel continued its efforts to ease economic and humanitarian hardship in Gaza, allowing 18,000 Gazans a day to enter Israel to work and hundreds of those in need of medical attention to be admitted to Israeli hospitals. .

It is now known that several people who were allowed in provided Hamas with intelligence to plan the massacre.

Far from being motivated by humanitarian difficulties, Hamas perpetuates them. In 2021, the pro-Hamas newspaper Al Mayadeen reported that the organization had rejected offers to lift restrictions entirely in exchange for an end to hostilities with Israel. In previous rounds of violence, it directed attacks not only against Israel, but also directly against the border crossings that are the lifeblood of aid to the Palestinians. Early in the current war, both the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings were knocked out of service by Hamas rockets.

Military operations in civilian areas or fuel restrictions can only be understood when the control that Hamas has over Gaza is acknowledged. The first step towards a better future is a good knowledge of history. (OR)