134: Was Gaza still occupied after 2005?
Summary
Haviv Weisberg argues that Israel does not occupy Gaza, asserting that the 2005 withdrawal ended belligerent occupation under international law. He critiques the persistent use of the term "occupation" as a rhetorical tool that ignores Palestinian agency and Hamas's role in Gaza's deterioration. Weisberg also refutes claims that Ariel Sharon engineered the withdrawal's failure to prevent West Bank disengagement, attributing the outcome instead to regional security dynamics and Palestinian political choices.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The debate over whether Israel occupies Gaza
Defining belligerent occupation under the Geneva Conventions
Why the lack of boots on the ground disqualifies Gaza as occupied
The role of the blockade and Egypt's involvement in Gaza
The 2008 Israeli Supreme Court ruling on Gaza's status
The argument that Sharon engineered Gaza's failure to keep the West Bank
Critique of the 'engineered failure' narrative and Palestinian agency
Ehud Olmert's convergence plan and the 2006 election context
The 2006 wars in Gaza and Lebanon and their impact on Israeli policy
Conclusion: The necessity of acknowledging Palestinian and Hamas agency
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