Hamas is the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, a densely populated coastal Palestinian enclave. The territory is the size of Washington, D.C., and is home to more than two million people.
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Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and fought four wars against Israel since taking power.
Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip need permits from Israeli authorities to enter Israel, and these permits are often difficult to obtain. In addition, Israel has built a barrier around the West Bank that restricts the movement of Palestinians.
Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, following a violent conflict with its rival faction, Fatah, which is dominant in the West Bank. Since then, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip and established its own administrative and security structures.
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Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, following Hamas’s takeover of the territory. This blockade severely restricts the flow of goods, people, and services into and out of Gaza. While certain humanitarian aid and essential goods are allowed in, the movement of people, including Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza, is tightly controlled.
Egypt shares a border with Gaza in the south, and it also restricts the movement of people and goods across the Rafah Border Crossing. Egypt has intermittently opened and closed the crossing, citing security concerns and political developments.
Palestinians in Gaza who wish to travel to Israel, the West Bank, or abroad often need permits issued by Israeli authorities. These permits are typically granted for specific purposes such as medical treatment, business, or family reunification.
The ongoing political tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, have also affected freedom of movement. Divisions between these two factions have led to restrictions on travel and movement between the two Palestinian territories.
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