Blockade of the Gaza Strip June 2008, Israel agreed to lift its blockade of Gaza Strip. At Egypt's request, Israel did not always respond to Palestinian cease fire violations by closing the border. Israel accused Hamas of transporting weapons into Gaza via tunnels to Egypt, failing to stop rocket attacks, and noted that Hamas would not continue negotiating the release of Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas since 2006. Hamas' decision alienated it from the government of Egypt, which had linked the opening of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing with Shalit's release. In the early stage of the cease-fire, Israeli officials had
Biodiversity in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip subtropical aridity of the Sahara and the Arabian deserts, and the subtropical humidity of the Levant or eastern Mediterranean. The climate conditions are highly variable within the area and modified locally by altitude, latitude, and the proximity to the Mediterranean sea. The following is a taxonomical classification up to Phylum level of all species found in the area. The following are online well prepared databases about the biodiversity in the Palestine Israel area. Biodiversity in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip Biodiversity in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip is about the fauna and flora in