Israel has subjected the Gaza Strip to a policy of closure since 1991. However, the current, most extreme form, of closure has been applied continuously since the 14 June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. Apart from depriving the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza of basic goods and crippling the economy by preventing trade with the outside world, the closure regime has prolonged the suffering caused by the Israeli attacks on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. It has been prohibited to bring reconstruction materials, including urgently needed materials for the water and sanitation sector, into Gaza, leading to ongoing homelessness and an impending crisis with regard to sewage and clean drinking water.

To download the full Fact Sheet click here