In 2005, Israel removed 7,500 illegal settlers from the choice lands in Gaza they had occupied for years. (…)

The Disengagement was also unilateral, which meant there was no coordination with the Palestinians. No core Palestinian requests were met, such as allowing free commerce, free sea access, and the reopening of Gaza’s International Airport. Palestinians were effectively blockaded even before Hamas won elections in 2006 with a 45% plurality of the vote. (…)

An Israeli officer had recently admitted the army’s raids into Gaza were characterized by chaos and the indiscriminate use of force. “Gaza was considered a playground for sharpshooters,” he explained.