"why did Israel blockade Gaza in 2001?"

AI Overview

During 2001, Israel did not impose a formal blockade of the Gaza Strip, but it did significantly tighten existing movement restrictions in response to the Second Intifada, which began in September 2000

. The intensified closures were a punitive measure in response to a wave of Palestinian violence, including mortar and rocket attacks on Israeli communities.

Key actions and motivations behind the closures during 2001 include:

• Response to the Second Intifada: The renewed and escalating conflict, following the breakdown of the Camp David talks, was marked by an increase in Palestinian militant attacks, including suicide bombings and the launch of mortars and early Qassam rockets. These attacks led Israel to impose frequent closures on its borders with the Palestinian territories.
• Limited access and economic hardship: Israel had used "security" as a reason to restrict movement and trade with Gaza since the early 1990s. The intensified closures during the intifada had a devastating economic impact on Gaza, resulting in high unemployment and food shortages. A January 2001 UN report noted that border crossings were closed more than 75% of the time between October 2000 and January 2001.
• Military actions: In addition to the closures, Israel conducted military operations in Gaza in 2001. After Palestinian mortar attacks on Israeli settlements, the Israeli Air Force bombed the newly constructed Gaza airport, effectively demolishing it and ensuring it would not reopen. In April 2001, Israeli troops also briefly re-entered Gaza territory, dividing it into three parts.

The current, more formal blockade of Gaza began later in 2007, after Hamas took control of the territory. However, the closures in 2001 were part of a long history of Israeli-imposed restrictions in response to security concerns.