Gaza was not
born in 2023.

Israel withdrew its permanent ground forces and settlements from inside Gaza in 2005, but retained extensive control over Gaza’s airspace, territorial waters, population registry, electromagnetic sphere and most crossings. After Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007, Israel sharply intensified restrictions into a land, sea and air blockade.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented how the blockade restricted the movement of people and goods, damaged livelihoods, constrained medical access, weakened infrastructure and isolated Gaza from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory. Egypt has also imposed restrictions at Rafah at different periods, but the overall system of closure has been overwhelmingly shaped by Israeli control.

Long before October 2023, Gaza already lived with chronic electricity shortages, restrictions on construction materials and exports, constrained access to specialist healthcare, high unemployment and repeated damage to housing, water systems and public infrastructure.

The period of blockade was not one uninterrupted military campaign. It was punctuated by repeated major escalations in which Gaza’s densely populated neighbourhoods, homes and infrastructure were again subjected to large-scale attack.

The word genocide is a legal term, not simply a synonym for mass killing. The question turns especially on whether prohibited acts are committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

Rather than asking readers to accept the conclusion of this website, the links below go directly to courts, United Nations bodies, major human-rights organisations and genocide scholars who have examined the evidence.

Governments decide diplomatic policy, arms transfers, sanctions, recognition, humanitarian funding and how international law is enforced. A short, personal message to an elected representative is more useful than copying hundreds of people into the same generic email.

Ask a specific question. For example: what is your representative doing to secure unrestricted humanitarian access, uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians, support accountability, and ensure their government is not contributing to unlawful conduct?

When did the blockade of Gaza begin?

Israel sharply intensified restrictions into a land, sea and air blockade in 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza. Restrictions and closures existed before 2007, but the post-2007 system became the defining framework for the movement of people and goods.

What major Gaza wars took place before 2023?

Major escalations included the 2008–09 Gaza War, the 2012 conflict, the 2014 Gaza War, the Great March of Return period in 2018–19, the 2021 war and further escalations in 2022 and 2023.

Did the International Court of Justice rule that Israel committed genocide in Gaza?

No final merits judgment has yet determined that question. The ICJ issued provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel. Separately, Amnesty International and a number of genocide scholars have concluded that genocide has occurred, while Human Rights Watch has reported acts of genocide and extermination.

Which reputable charities help Palestinians in Gaza?

Established options include UNRWA, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders, Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement. Donate through the organisations' official websites.

How can I contact my political representative about Gaza?

Use the official parliamentary or congressional lookup service for your country. This page links directly to official services for the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and several major European states.