₦airaland Forum

Will Rabin’s dream of Gaza being swallowed by the sea come true?

Published: September 21, 2015 at 3:18 pm

> Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin once said in 1992, “I wish I could wake up one day and find that Gaza has sunk into the sea.”



That wish was never fulfilled. Instead, the situation in Gaza has worsened for both Palestinians and Israel.

Egyptian Army Floods Gaza Border

On 11 September 2015, the Egyptian army began pumping large amounts of seawater into pipes at the Gaza-Egypt border, targeting smuggling tunnels. This action followed Egypt’s plan to create a buffer zone in Rafah since October of the previous year, all under the banner of “combatting terrorism”.

Longstanding Isolation of Gaza

Gaza’s hardship predates Israel’s formation in 1948. When under Egyptian rule, Gazans lacked rights and were isolated from the Arab world. The 1967 war worsened conditions, and the Israeli blockade imposed in recent years has further severed Gaza from the world. Egypt’s repeated closures of the Rafah border crossing have added to the suffocation.

Israeli Strategies Post-1967

Following the 1967 war, Israel tried to integrate Gaza economically by linking its economy with Israel’s, publishing Arabic-language materials, and showing dubbed films to encourage cultural assimilation.

Internal Palestinian Struggles

Since Hamas won the 2006 elections, Gaza has remained politically divided from the West Bank (governed by Fatah). The region now faces a severe economic crisis, isolation, and a slow rebuilding process after three devastating Israeli offensives (2008, 2012, 2014).

Water Contamination Crisis

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri warned that Egypt’s seawater flooding threatens Gaza’s groundwater and homes. The Palestine Water Authority stated that this causes soil salinity, damages agriculture, and endangers food and water security.

Egypt-Hamas Relations

Hamas’ short-lived alliance with Egypt during President Morsi’s era collapsed after the 2013 military coup. Since then, Egypt's military-backed government has cracked down on Gaza’s tunnel economy and tightened border controls.

Despite hostility, Hamas has tried to reopen dialogue with Egypt, given its geographical dependency. Egypt is a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations with Israel.

Hamas has also emphasized its shared security concerns with Egypt, particularly regarding Salafi-jihadist groups active in Sinai.

No Signs of Policy Shift

Egypt’s stance hasn’t softened despite Saudi-backed reconciliation efforts. In 2015, the Rafah border was opened only 18 days between January and July. A brief 4-day opening in August was not considered a major policy change.

Tensions Deepen

The disappearance of four Hamas-linked Palestinians in Sinai further soured relations. Hamas suspects Egypt's involvement, but the fate of the men remains unknown.


Translated from Al-Khaleej Online, 20 September 2015.

> The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect MEMO’s editorial policy.

Most of the countries in that region always say 'Death to Israel'.

duro4chang:
Most of the countries in that region always say 'Death to Israel'.

Have you heard Israelis saying "Death to Arabs? "

I'll show you one,

Watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDXBGIKWzpU?si=uOOm5fDg2-ldvqWI

And this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFxL0G5C1e8?si=a3fSXgsFrKUpnGP4

I doubt if there will ever be peace in that part and it’s sad. No country would sit back and watch terrorists take advantage of a closer enclave to struck them from time to time without trying to annex such land so they can oversee it themselves. That’s why even Egypt, Gazas religious brothers are not taking any chances with their shared border either. I wish the United Nations would do something real quick about the situation. I’m not in support of Israel’s way but then I definitely won’t just sit and watch terrorists take advantage of such lands to maim and terrorize my people day in, day out either. It’s a complicated situation.

Refinedbeing:
I doubt if there will ever be peace in that part and it’s sad. No country would sit back and watch terrorists take advantage of a closer enclave to struck them from time to time without trying to annex such land so they can oversee it themselves. That’s why even Egypt, Gazas religious brothers are not taking any chances with their shared border either. I wish the United Nations would do something real quick about the situation. I’m not in support of Israel’s way but then I definitely won’t just sit and watch terrorists take advantage of such lands to maim and terrorize my people day in, day out either. It’s a complicated situation.

Maybe giving Palestine a state would help, PLO used to be the Hamas, but dropped weapon when they recognised Israel and Israel had peace deal with then in Oslo accords