What Exactly is the Gaza Strip?

[bjl584]

What is the Gaza Strip, and who controls it? (cnbc.com)

[Fishindude77]

Based on listening to and watching the news for the last several decades, it's no place I'd recommend for a vacation.

[myrdale]

In 2006, the Gaza Strip was a country which came under the control of Hamas.

In 2023, the Gaza Strip was a country which chose to attack Israel and killed 1,300 people, mostly civilians.

In 2024, the Gaza Strip will be a parking lot.

[Tabs]

The problem with this entire conflict is that you basically have two sides who are hell-bent on evicting the other out of the region. "Push them into the sea" as some have dubbed it. So long as those with hard line views like that are in charge (looking at both Netanyahu and HAMAS on this one), there will be no peace. If people truly desire peace, the Israelis need to elect someone more diplomatic, just as the Palestinians need to vote for someone just as diplomatic (such as Fatah).

Otherwise, push comes to shove, he who has the greatest military strength will prevail in the end here, and that is most likely going to be Israel. But at what cost?

[corn18]

I went to the area around the Gaza strip back in 2020. What a horrible place to live. There are two tethered airborne balloons (one at the north end, one at the south end) with a surveillance package. We were visiting a UAV company that was based out of an airstrip to the south just inside Israel on the Egyptian border. They flew missions daily over Gaza. When we were in Tel Aviv meeting with the company, there were rockets being fired in our direction from Gaza. Was glad to get home.

[disneysteve]

I went to the area around the Gaza strip back in 2020. What a horrible place to live. There are two tethered airborne balloons (one at the north end, one at the south end) with a surveillance package. We were visiting a UAV company that was based out of an airstrip to the south just inside Israel on the Egyptian border. They flew missions daily over Gaza. When we were in Tel Aviv meeting with the company, there were rockets being fired in our direction from Gaza. Was glad to get home.

Hi corn18 . Great to hear from you. I'd love to hear an update on how life has been treating you.

[ua_guy]

I was relieved to hear a ceasefire was reached yesterday between Israel and Hamas. Hopefully this helps ease global tension. Great work by President Joe Biden and Administration.

[myrdale]

Each marker is a man, woman, or child kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas. I wish I had the name of each of them for you as each of these is someone's son, mother, daughter, father, grandfather, or grandmother. Some are less than 10 and some are elderly.