▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Israel ▁with d rew ▁its ▁forces ▁from ▁the ▁Gaz a ▁St rip ▁and ▁allowed ▁the ▁Palest in ian ▁authority ▁to ▁take ▁control . ▁Despite ▁the ▁withdraw al , ▁Israel ▁still ▁maintain s ▁direct ▁external ▁control ▁over ▁every day ▁life ▁in ▁Gaz a , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁territory ' s ▁air ▁and ▁mar itime ▁space , ▁most ▁of ▁its ▁land ▁cross ings , ▁electric ity ▁and ▁water ▁supply ▁and ▁other ▁util ities . ▁According ▁to ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Watch ▁( HR W ), ▁Palest ini ans ▁in ▁Gaz a ▁still ▁remain ▁protected ▁persons ▁under ▁the ▁articles ▁of ▁the ▁Gene va ▁Con vent ions . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Gaz a ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Ham as ▁took ▁full ▁control ▁over ▁the ▁strip ▁and ▁exp elled ▁its ▁rival ▁and ▁current ▁r uler ▁of ▁the ▁West ▁Bank , ▁F ata h . ▁The ▁take over ▁by ▁Ham as ▁led ▁Israel ▁and ▁Egypt ▁to ▁imp ose ▁a ▁land , ▁air ▁and ▁sea ▁block ade ▁on ▁the ▁Gaz a ▁St rip . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁Gaz a ▁war , ▁the ▁human itar ian ▁situation ▁in ▁Gaz a ▁w ors ened . ▁Ham as ▁has ▁strugg led ▁to ▁manage ▁the ▁civil ▁life ▁in ▁the ▁Gaz a ▁St rip , ▁and ▁the ▁new ▁leadership ▁under ▁Y ah ya ▁Sin war ▁has ▁hoped ▁to ▁get ▁the ▁F ata h - led ▁Palest in ian ▁Author ity ▁to ▁take ▁control ▁of ▁Gaz a ' s ▁civil ▁issues ,