ABSTRACT
Israel’s approach toward the Gaza Strip in the post-Oslo era is considered among the most important recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under Ariel Sharon’s leadership, Israel transformed its relationship with Gaza in 2005 by withdrawing from the Strip. In doing so, Israel created a separate reality in Gaza from the West Bank, paving the way for a split between Hamas and Fatah in 2007 when the Islamic movement forcefully took over Gaza. The political program of the new Hamas government in Gaza led to developments that further entrenched the internal Palestinian schism. Moreover, this generated a new phase in Israel’s treatment of Gaza, fundamentally different from previous periods.
