For 17 years before Oct 7, Gaza lived under an Israeli-imposed land, air, and sea blockade that restricted food, fuel, medicine, movement, and trade, widely described as collective punishment of 2+ million civilians. Israel controlled Gazaâ(TM)s borders, airspace, fishing waters, population registry, electricity, and imports, even after withdrawing settlers.
During that time, Israel launched multiple large military assaults (2008â"09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and others), killing thousands of Palestinians, including many civilians, and destroying homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Reconstruction was repeatedly blocked.
In 2018â"2019, Israeli forces killed 200+ unarmed protesters during border demonstrations and permanently injured thousands more.
Gazaâ(TM)s economy collapsed, unemployment soared above 40%, clean water became scarce, electricity was limited to hours a day, and most people became dependent on aid, making Gaza unlivable.