In the past two decades Israel has given back complete control of Gaza to the Palestinians. They had one election 15 years ago. Hamas won on a campaign of abolishing Israel (“from the river to the sea...”). They proceeded to shoot thousands of rockets into major Israeli population centers - rockets that couldn’t have reached had Israel not given back Gaza.

While I don’t at all agree with the settlements, the truth is that’s a lightening rod point and the actual amount of land is a drop in the bucket. Israel has always been willing to trade land for peace. But both parties must want peace.

"In the past two decades Israel has given back complete control of Gaza to the Palestinians."

Bollocks - there is a complete naval blockade.

[Before the Hasbarati downvote me - I truly couldn't care whether is a good or bad thing, but HN is for facts].

To those who would like to learn more, GP is referring to the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, which, to quote Wikipedia, "was the unilateral dismantling in 2005 of the 21 Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of the settlers and Israeli army from inside the Gaza Strip." [0]

But did Israel give back "complete control of Gaza"? Here's another Wikipedia quote: "Israel maintains direct external control over Gaza and indirect control over life within Gaza: it controls Gaza's air and maritime space, and six of Gaza's seven land crossings. It reserves the right to enter Gaza at will with its military and maintains a no-go buffer zone within the Gaza territory. Gaza is dependent on Israel for its water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities." [1]

My own opinion on the matter is not contained within this post; just providing some more facts for the interested.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_disengagement_from_Gaz... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip