International aid organisations, among them Oxfam and Amnesty International, say too little is being done to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. A joint report issued by 16 organisations criticises not only Israel but also the international community. Israel and Egypt have allowed only vital humanitarian aid into the territory since the Islamist Hamas came to power there in June 2007.

Jeremy Hobbs, the Executive Director of Oxfam International, says the international community has betrayed the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. He says too little pressure has been exerted on Israel to end the blockade of the coastal enclave, which suffers in particular from a shortage of building materials.

These have been very much in demand since the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip at the beginning of the year. Approximately 1400 Palestinians were killed during the offensive, which caused extensive damage to homes, public services, farms and businesses. The shortages mean that little of the damage has been repaired.

Although the majority of Gaza’s population relies on foreign aid, Israel says the sanctions will stay in place as long as Hamas continues to call for the destruction of Israel.

Map of the Gaza Strip from Wikimedia Commons