| It is good that we can finally agree that Gaza is occupied by the Israeli military. > Alleging that blockade did not happen in response to Hamas is just flat out false. Never alleged that. The current variation of the blockade is in response to Hamas’ takeover. However there were blockades before Hamas’ takeover: > The special envoy of the Quartet James Wolfensohn noted that "Gaza had been effectively sealed off from the outside world since the Israeli disengagement [August–September 2005], and the humanitarian and economic consequences for the Palestinian population were profound. There were already food shortages. Palestinian workers and traders to Israel were unable to cross the border > On 15 January 2006, the Karni crossing – the sole point for exports of goods from Gaza – was closed completely for all kinds of exports. Hamas is elected to government in a fair election on 25 January 2006 > Between 1 January and 11 May [2006], more than 12,700 tonnes of produce were harvested in Gaza's greenhouses, almost all of it destined for export; out of it, only 1,600 tonnes (less than 13%) were actually exported. Hamas takes control of Gaza in March 2007 after winning the civil war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip So for 2 years between the partial withdrawal and Hamas taking power Israel is limiting imports and exports into the Gaza strip. The blockade follows a similar pattern as other illegal conduct in other occupied territories, is to limit the potential of a free Palestinian state. Israel didn’t wake up one day and decide to blockade for fun. It remains a colonial power with aims to keep its colonial holdings and limit any potential of its colonial subjects. > Subsequently, the expectation was that the security situation would improve. Had that happened, then you could talk about airspace, waters, etc. You are arguing in alternative history, any argument rooted in alternative history is pure speculation. You have no proof that would be the case. Who is to say that without the rocket attacks, the Gaza strip would have continued to be subjugated, economically suppressed, and turned into a bantustan for Israel to exploit? |
Leaving the legal definition of occupation, here is the simple dictionary definition of occupation from wikipedia
Military occupation, also known as belligerent occupation or simply occupation, is the temporary military control by a ruling power over a territory that is outside of that power's sovereign territory.[1][2][3][4]
Israel did not have military control over Gaza, it is absurd to allege simultaneously that Israel had military control over Gaza and also allowed Hamas to build 500 miles of tunnels and attack itself on October 7th from the territory it militarily controled.
So no, by any sane definition of occupation, such as Wikipedia, Israel was not occupying Gaza before October 8th
These greenhouses you are referring to were run by Israeli settlers in Gaza. They were dismantled when the settlements were dismantled. Not by Israel, by Palestinians themselves https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9331863
"You are arguing in alternative history, any argument rooted in alternative history is pure speculation."
Sorry, that is a weird analysis. By your logic we can't anticipate or logically analyze anything at all, it would all be speculation
The point of Israeli withdrawal was that if the occupation ends, maybe there is more chance for peace, that was the point of it and the opposite happened.