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In reply to the discussion: Report: Israeli Spy Satellites Spot Iranian Ship Being Loaded With Rockets For Gaza [View all]JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 27, 2012, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)
Gaza is very much dependent on UN aid through UNRWA:
http://www.unrwa.org/
The Israelis have a policy of letting in just enough for a survival diet.
I haven't found a UN position on the current legal status of Gaza under international law, but if it's surrounded and blockaded and subject to incursion and has no air rights, that's an occupation in fact, regardless of what either Israel or Hamas claim (for different reasons).
There doesn't have to be a real "benefit." Some motivations are irrational. Most Israelis including the present establishment (not just Likud) see their benefit in keeping and expanding settlements in the West Bank and shrinking the Palestinian areas into isolated bantustans behind high walls. They perceive a mortal threat, even if they have 99 percent of the power and the Palestinians have 1 percent. Planners have contemplated mass expulsion but this would mean a general war. Tiny Gaza is a pain, they don't want that land, they can't get rid of it, they can't depopulate it without a war, and they can't tolerate development there because they don't want a stronger Palestine, which would be considered a threat. They want to forever punish the Gazans for voting for Hamas in 2005 (though of course Israel once supported Hamas as a strategy to weaken the PLO). I believe they use Gaza for making demonstrations of their ability and will to commit violence, and thus send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is never to be fucked with because they will go mad dog, etc. etc. As if anyone really needed it.