Chaos has descended on the Gaza strip in the wake of a Quarantine of the Strip by Israel. This almost complete blockade of the strip has come in response to the constant barrage of Kassam rockets on Israel’s southern border. The Hamas controlled strip has been blacked out in parts after vital fuel supplies have been stopped from entering the strip. Israel has said that in is inconceivable to expect it to supply the Hamas controlled strip with fuel that it uses to bomb Israeli cities. Many in the international community including the United Nations do not see it this way as there has been a wide condemnation of Israeli policy. A widely expected breakout of the strip is occurring as residents of the strip are pouring into Egypt in search of fuel and other basic commodities that have become unavailable. Some leading analysts have commented on the gradual deterioration of living conditions in the strip since Israel’s unilateral withdraw a few years ago. They have commented that day to day life has become unbearable since that withdrawal with no real relief in sight. Many warned of a serious humanitarian crisis that would ensue if Israeli settlements were removed. These mostly agricultural settlements provided thousands of jobs for Gaza residents and they are no more. No one really knows what is to happen now and what practical steps need to be taken to alleviate the suffering of Gaza residents and residents of Sderot on the Israeli side. Many believe that a complete takeover of the strip is imminent, that will probably not alleviate the humanitarian crisis though it might slow down the rocket attacks on the Israeli southern border.

It has become a big mess.