The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the blockade, which is entering its 17th year, and critics say it has allowed Hamas to fill a power vacuum there. In 2007, Israel began taking control of sea, land and air routes to Gaza, and it eventually blockaded it, in conjunction with Egypt, which also borders a smaller section of the strip, saying it was necessary to prevent Hamas attacks on Israelis. Since then, no elections have been held, and Hamas maintains political control of the area. Shortly after Hamas won elections in the Gaza Strip in 2006, a power struggle ensued between Fatah and Hamas, which resulted in Hamas fighters’ ousting all Fatah politicians from the Gaza by force.
