In July 2013, the Egyptian military destroyed most of the underground passages that brought fuel and raw materials to Gaza. Now, industrial and construction workers are unemployed, and fishermen can’t fish.
Short of supplies and worried about regional fallout from Syria strikes, Gazans fashion makeshift gas masks in case of a chemical attack.
Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, never had a better year than when it had an ally in Cairo’s top office who considered Gaza’s interests.
Political unrest in Egypt has left Gaza short of goods, fuel, and construction material.
Gazans with a hankering for the Colonel’s secret recipe can call up a delivery company and get some finger lickin’ food smuggled hot from Egypt in just three hours.
Israel’s deadly strike today was a warning to Hamas to rein in more extreme militants, like the Salafist group that is firing rockets into Israel. Hamas is already on it.
Economic stagnation and political frustration steadily eroded Gazans’ support for Hamas after it took over in 2006, but support is rebounding because it is seen as standing up to Israel.
But even inland areas are no haven as Israeli air strikes continue in Gaza. One strike today killed 11 civilians including six children in an attempt to kill a Hamas commander.
Egypt has closed some of Gaza’s tunnels, causing economic pain and surprising some who expected more sympathetic policies because of ties between the two governments.
In the wake of yesterday’s attack on Egyptian guards in the Sinai, Gaza’s border crossings with Israel and Egypt, as well as smuggling tunnels, have been shut down.
By Ahmed AlDabba
Jan. 20, 2014