{ "id": "R41275", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41275", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 364032, "date": "2010-06-23", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T01:36:27.010252", "title": "Israel\u2019s Blockade of Gaza, the Mavi Marmara Incident, and Its Aftermath", "summary": "Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but retained control of its borders. Hamas, a U.S. State Department-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and forcibly seized control of the territory in 2007. Israel imposed a tighter blockade of Gaza in response to Hamas\u2019s takeover and tightened the flow of goods and materials into Gaza after its military offensive against Hamas from December 2008 to January 2009. That offensive destroyed much of Gaza\u2019s infrastructure, but Israel has obstructed the delivery of rebuilding materials that it said could also be used to manufacture weapons and for other military purposes. Israel, the U.N., and international non-governmental organizations differ about the severity of the blockade\u2019s effects on the humanitarian situation of Palestinian residents of Gaza. Nonetheless, it is clear that the territory\u2019s economy and people are suffering.\nIn recent years, humanitarian aid groups have sent supply ships and activists to Gaza. However, Israel directs them to its port of Ashdod for inspection before delivery to Gaza. In May 2010, the pro-Palestinian Free Gaza Movement and the pro-Hamas Turkish Humanitarian Relief Fund organized a six-ship flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and to break Israel\u2019s blockade of the territory. The ships refused an Israeli offer to deliver the goods to Ashdod. On May 31, Israeli naval special forces intercepted the convoy in international waters. They took control of five of the ships without resistance. However, some activists on a large Turkish passenger vessel challenged the commandos. The confrontation resulted in eight Turks and one Turkish-American killed, more than 20 passengers injured, and 10 commandos injured. \nIsrael considered its actions to be legitimate self-defense. Turkey, whose nationals comprised the largest contingent in the flotilla and among the casualties, considered them to be unjustifiable and in contravention of international law. There was near-universal international condemnation of Israel\u2019s actions. The U.N. Security Council in a U.S.-Turkish compromise condemned \u201cthe acts\u201d that resulted in lost lives and called for an\n impartial inquiry. Several inquiries are underway in Israel, but Turkey will not be satisfied unless there is an international one under U.N. auspices. \nThe Obama Administration tried to walk a fine line between two allies, Israel and Turkey, and not allow the incident to derail efforts to ameliorate relations with Israel in order to protect Israeli-Palestinian talks now underway. It urged Israel to include international participants in its probe of the incident, and announced an aid package for the Palestinians that does not require new appropriations. However, the Administration\u2019s reaction displeased Turkey, and may contribute to that country\u2019s ongoing pursuit of a more independent foreign policy course. Turkish-Israeli relations, which had been deteriorating for some time, have reached a low point. In the aftermath of the incident, Israel has eased restrictions on the passage of goods and people into Gaza, while continuing to prevent shipments of weapons and dual-use items to Hamas.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41275", "sha1": "b124c28dda8f6f4e6ec4cf8f43192cc738681191", "filename": "files/20100623_R41275_b124c28dda8f6f4e6ec4cf8f43192cc738681191.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41275", "sha1": "88103f368f8d2a5231db381390951b6d0b483163", "filename": "files/20100623_R41275_88103f368f8d2a5231db381390951b6d0b483163.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501856/", "id": "R41275_2010Jun16", "date": "2010-06-16", "retrieved": "2015-03-30T22:03:27", "title": "Israel's Blockade of Gaza, the Mavi Marmara Incident, and Its Aftermath", "summary": "This report provides background information on the Israel's blockade on Gaza, and it discusses the raid on the MV Marmara, the free Gaza Movement, views form Israel and Turkey, international reaction and the U.S. position.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100616_R41275_7161731aedf8c5369c0ee9c64dd27c5bba234789.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100616_R41275_7161731aedf8c5369c0ee9c64dd27c5bba234789.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Israel -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Israel -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Israel", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Israel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government", "name": "Politics and government" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501959/", "id": "R41275_2010Jun05", "date": "2010-06-05", "retrieved": "2015-03-30T22:03:27", "title": "Israel's Blockade of Gaza and the Mavi Marmara Incident", "summary": "This report discusses the blockade that has severely affected the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, although Israel and its critics differ about the effects. It provides information on the number of trucks allowed to enter Gaza and lists their cargos of food, medicine, and other supplies.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100605_R41275_346df3cdb5a4b2f546362e0cf316507d2ecabf37.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100605_R41275_346df3cdb5a4b2f546362e0cf316507d2ecabf37.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Israel", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Israel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Israel -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Israel -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Human rights", "name": "Human rights" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security" ] }