Debunked: 'Gaza is not occupied'

Throughout Israel’s latest aggression on Gaza, Israeli ministers have continued to spread the lie that the besieged enclave is not occupied. The purpose of this misinformation is to further dehumanise Palestinians and justify the deadly violence against 2.2 million people, half of them children.

“Look at these people, we gave them freedom and they reward us with violence, hate and terror,” that is what Israeli officials say. “Instead of turning Gaza into the Singapore of the Middle East they have turned it into a launchpad for terrorism.”

That is the lie Israel wants the world to accept.

Under the 2005 Israeli Disengagement Plan, Israel retains absolute authority over Gaza’s airspace, territory and sea. The key here is who has effective control? Does Israel pass the effective control test? Yes, it does.

Israel is manifestly exercising control over Gaza from the air, land and sea.

READ: From Deir Yassin to Al-Ahli Hospital: Israel’s legacy of killing Palestinians

Israelis themselves have debunked this claim in the clearest way. When Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, and halted electricity, food, water and fuel, it was an explicit admission of effective control.

Anyone interested in the truth should ask – if Israel doesn’t occupy Gaza, why does it maintain the power to starve and withhold basic necessities? Israel wants the world to believe the myth that it “gave Gaza freedom.”

The absence of troops does not mean the end of domination and control when you hold the power to cut off basic lifelines to a people, control their border and banking system.

If Israel doesn’t occupy Gaza, why can it turn off the lights with a flip of a switch? Stop it exporting its produce? And control what can enter the Strip? The truth is obvious. And the media must stop letting Israel peddle this deadly lie.

READ: Remembering Israel’s ‘disengagement’ from Gaza

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.