Hamas Feigns Optimism As Gaza Limps Toward Crisis
Though Hamas downplays the effects on Gaza of the unrest in Egypt and the closure of the Rafah crossing, economists worry that conditions in the Strip are about to reach a new low.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are closely following the events unfolding in neighboring Egypt as the conflict which has engulfed the country since June 30 continues between supporters and opponents of the country's ousted president, Mohammed Morsi.
The unrest in Egypt has clearly and seriously impacted the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a territory both historically and geographically bound to Egypt.
The closure of the Rafah crossing and the smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt, which constitute a vital lifeline for the Palestinians in Gaza, have once again plunged Gaza into dire economic straits engendered by a fuel crisis, sharp oil and food shortages and an almost complete ban on construction material entering the coastal enclave.
As they have run out of fuel, most of Gaza’s gas stations have stopped service while a few of them are selling Israeli fuel, a costly alternative with prices nearly double those of Egyptian fuel.
