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Source: http://jcpa.org/gaza-economic-sanctions/
Israel and Gaza: Why Economic Sanctions Are Not Collective Punishment
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Justus Reid Weiner - The economic measures that Israel uses against the Hamas proto-government in Gaza are legitimate under the Geneva Convention. Other global organizations and countries, including the U.S., EU, and UN, routinely impose similar economic sanctions without being criticized. In fact, UN resolutions require that Israel prevent Hamas from obtaining funding and supplies that it could use for terrorist purposes. Many of those who claim Israel perpetrates collective punishment do the same or worse themselves. Egypt, which also borders Gaza, has stricter restrictions on its crossing than does Israel. While no one questions that Gazan residents suffer hardships, the fault lies with Hamas, not Israel. The current sanctions were only put in place after nothing else stopped attacks from Gaza. Rather than being punitive measures against the general population, they specifically focus on items that can be used for military purposes for kidnapping and attacking Israelis. The writer, an international human rights lawyer, is currently a scholar in residence at the Jerusalem Center.