Years of isolation, crippling blockade

Gaza is ruled by Hamas, blacklisted as a terrorist movement by the EU and the US. Israel maintains a crippling blockade on Gaza. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Palestinian National Authority forces. Efforts to reconcile the Palestinian factions have failed. At least 233 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since March 30, while 2 Israeli soldiers have been killed in that time.