Israeli siege dashes Gazans’ hope for future: UN

The United Nations’ humanitarian office has criticized the persisting siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel, saying the blockade has shattered the hopes of Gazans for a “prosperous future.”

“Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza,” The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest report on Gaza, which was released on Thursday.

The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli siege since 2007. The blockade has led to an economic and humanitarian crisis in the densely-populated enclave.

“These restrictions have reduced access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupted family life, and undermined the people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future,” the UN office said.

The report further shed light on how the misery is deteriorated by the restrictions Egypt has imposed in the Rafah border crossing (seen below).

“The situation has been further compounded by the restriction imposed since 2013 by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah Crossing, which had become the main crossing point used by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip given the above restrictions,” the report said.

Analysts call the Israeli blockade of Gaza illegal, and accuse Egypt of acting as Israel’s proxy by maintaining Tel Aviv’s years-long blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

Earlier this month, the United Nations’ Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process Robert Serry expressed concerns about the economic situation in the besieged Gaza Strip, saying that the lifting of the Israeli siege on the coastal enclave is the “prerequisite” for vitalizing its economy.

“We, in the UN, have always been in the forefront in calling for an end to the blockade as a prerequisite for a stable, functioning economy in Gaza. You also cannot have a stable, functioning economy without a more durable ceasefire and a recognized, legitimate and inclusive government leading Gaza’s recovery,” Serry said on March 2.