The Gaza Strip- Why known as the world’s biggest “Open Air Prison”? Israel-Hamas conflict 2023

The Gaza Strip has come into the global spotlight due to the recent escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists in October 2023.

• Amidst this turmoil Israel’s Defence Minister announced a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, cutting off essential resources from the area. The move highlights the long-standing contentious issue of the Gaza blockade that has been in place since 2007.

Important aspects regarding the Gaza Strip?

• Introduction: The Gaza Strip is located in the eastern Mediterranean basin, sharing borders with Egypt to the southwest and Israel to the north and east. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west side.
  • It is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with over 2 million inhabitants in a small area.
  • The term “open-air prison” has been widely used by academics, activists, and journalists to describe conditions in Gaza.

Historical Importance

• As a result of the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured Gaza and began its military occupation of the territory.
  • Israel withdrew its settlements from Gaza in 2005, but there were occasional blockades on the movement of persons and goods during this period.
• After Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a permanent blockade, citing security reasons.
  • The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) reported that the blockade has severely affected Gaza’s economy, resulting in high unemployment, food insecurity, and poverty in the region. Aid dependency has increased.

Related Border Areas

• Gaza is a landlocked area on three sides, although only two land sides are occupied by Israel, but its territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea to the west are controlled by Israel. Due to this entry via sea is prohibited. This area is majorly affected by war & blood baths.
  • It has three functional border crossings – the Karim Abu Salem Crossing and the Erez Crossing, controlled by Israel, and the Rafah Crossing, controlled by Egypt.
  • These crossings have been sealed in response to the current hostilities.

Affiliated places in the spotlight

War Latest Update

Israel Prime Minister