QSD on the Political Situation in the Gaza Strip

It has been almost twelve months since the conclusion of the recent war in the Gaza strip, between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant factions including Hamas. The numbers killed and injured in the 50 day conflict between July and August 2014 remain disputed, though a recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Council suggested that 2,251 Palestinians were killed—65 percent of whom were civilians—as were 73 Israelis; six as a result of rocket fire inside Israel, and 67 Israeli soldiers. The report also accused both sides of potentially being guilty of committing war crimes during the fighting.

Since the end of active hostilities, the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza strip has remained dire. A recent report from the World Bank argued that “blockades, war and poor governance have strangled Gaza’s economy and the unemployment rate is now the highest in the world”, and added that it feared that the Gazan economy could be on the “verge of collapse”. There have also been reports that Hamas, who control the Gaza strip, have been involved in attempting to crack down on ISIL-affiliated Salafist groups, who have been firing rockets from Gaza into Israel in an apparent attempt to increase tensions once more.