[anon1385]

For those asking for evidence: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/14/media-frustrat...

>UK news organisations are becoming increasingly frustrated by the continuing ban preventing foreign correspondents from crossing into the Gaza Strip, more than two weeks after Israel's military offensive against Hamas began.

>After months of attempting to limit access, the Israel Defence Forces are still refusing to open the Erez crossing they closed on 27 December, when the bombing campaign began, to anything other than humanitarian aid – despite a supreme court ruling ordering the government to allow members of the international press into Gaza.

>David Mannion, the ITV News editor-in-chief, branded the Israeli media ban "disgraceful", while Dominic Wagthorn, the Sky News Middle East correspondent, said the "unprecedented" level of interference was "very frustrating".

[dogma1138]

Last time I've checked Gaza also borders Egypt, the Egyptians also aren't keen on letting anyone through, and they've have been stepping up since the war in the Sinai started 5 years ago and arms were flowing both in and out of Gaza.

The Egyptians actually fire across the border, flood tunnels with sewage, and without going out on a full on assault do pretty much the same thing the Israelis do but since it's Egypt (almost) no one is reporting on it.

[lr4444lr]

That's not evidence of suppressing news about the occupation. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

[Synaesthesia]

Still controls everything that goes in and out of Gaza. Including essential supplies like medicinea and food. They also reserve the "right" to invade Gaza whenever necessary, while keeping the population locked in. The whole world agrees that it constitutes an occupation.

[lr4444lr]

> Still controls everything that goes in and out of Gaza

Gaza is a part of a separate sovereign state, with which Israel has tense foreign relations and is within its rights to control exports. and they're posting border guards for those exiting it. It's legally no different from inspections that take place at U.S./Mexico border checkpoints.

> They also reserve the "right" to invade Gaza whenever necessary

Source?

> while keeping the population locked in

Source? No country is obligated (except for E.U. member states) to allow the free flow of people without visas. The only thing I've read which might qualify for this claim is naval blockade of the coastline.

> The whole world agrees that it constitutes an occupation

Gaza? Source?

[Synaesthesia]

Gaza is being kept separated from the West Bank and the rest of the world by a total blockade, maintained by Israel in violation of the Oslo accords, which Israel signed 20 years ago. Immediately after the signing of those accords (1993) Gaza was closed off with a fence and travel was severely curtailed with an electronic card system. The blockade has only become more severe since then.

Regarding you request for source on the "right to invade Gaza": > "Israel will continue to control Gaza's coastline and airspace and reserves the right to undertake military operations when necessary. (Art 3.1)." http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/mfadocuments/p...

This is also evident by the many incursions Israel has made on Gaza. Israel is still firing shells into Gaza with tanks and mortars! https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=hundred...

Regarding the Israeli control of Gaza being an occupation:

>In January 2012, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General stated that under resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, the UN still regards Gaza to be part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.[15]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-occupied_territories

[lr4444lr]

I agree that the seacoast and airspace represents a problem, and so is the reliance of Gaza on water and power infrastructure within Israel, which is a difficult humanitarian problem when mutual hostilities exist. I'm pleased to see that you've narrowed your statements to that issue, as it's a huge step in a discussion about the logistics of a solution.

I don't see the text you've cited from your first source when I follow the link about the prerogative of general military operations. There is similar wording in B 3.1 et ff., but limited to defense, and context is needed: Israel is formally at war with Hamas, which (after suspending every election in Gaza after they were put in power) is the de facto regional authority. This is not a claim of a peacetime "right" any more than our in

The second link is not a source, and the most recent attacks at the top of the search are claimed to be a self-defense response.

The link in the third source is nowhere to be found, but it likely rests on UN Resolution 242, of which Hamas (and the PNA insofar as Abbas represents it) has not honored by rejection of affirmation 1(ii): "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force" http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/palestine/ch3.pdf

[dragonwriter]

> Gaza is a part of a separate sovereign state

Israel does not recognize any separate state as having sovereignty over Gaza.

> It's legally no different from inspections that take place at U.S./Mexico border checkpoints.

Last I checked, the US doesn't assert a right to control Mexico's seacoast or airspace, and impose a blockade of shipments into and out of Mexico that do not come through the US.