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Gaza suffers from longest blockade in modern history

Sunday, 11 October 2020 11:49 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 11 October 2020 11:49 PM ]

Ashraf Shannon

PRESS TV, Gaza

The Gaza Strip has been descending further into despair under the watchful eyes of the international community for years.

The tiny coastal sliver has been subjected to the longest land, air and sea blockade in modern history. The Israeli blockade in place since 2007 has taken its toll on all aspects of life in the impoverished enclave and has caused a sharp decline in the quality of life as well as high unemployment and poverty.

The Israeli regime also severely restricts import and export as well as access of Palestinians in Gaza to their agricultural land and fishing areas. Gazans have been suffering from deepening poverty and underdevelopment due to the crippling Israeli siege.

Currently some eighty percent of them rely on some sort of aid to survive. The Israeli blockade and military aggressions since 2007 have also taken their toll on Gaza’s health system hindering the ability to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

Last month Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that with sharply rising COVID-19 cases in Gaza, the health sector faces total collapse, unless the blockade is relieved.

As years go by many here blame the Israeli blockade on what they describe as an international conspiracy of silence. Palestinians in Gaza have been suffering under the Israeli blockade since 2007. Human rights organizations have condemned the siege, saying the blockade violates international law.

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