Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein recently asserted on a CNN panel that Israel's 2005 unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip was a "big mistake" that led to the territory becoming a "terror state." Goldstein, who is the founder and Executive Director of The Lawfare Project, made the remarks during a televised discussion, highlighting her long-held perspective on the consequences of the withdrawal.
"The truth is Israel should’ve never left Gaza. When Israel dragged every Jew out of Gaza in 2005, we had a terror state. That was a big mistake and the world has yet to admit that,” Goldstein stated during the CNN appearance. Her comments underscore a critical viewpoint on the historical decision and its aftermath.
The Israeli disengagement plan, proposed by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and approved by the Knesset in 2004, saw the dismantling of all 21 Israeli settlements in Gaza and four in the northern West Bank by September 2005. The stated aim was to improve Israel's security and long-term strategic position, with approximately 9,000 Israeli settlers evacuated from the area.
Following the Israeli withdrawal, a political vacuum emerged in Gaza, which Hamas capitalized on. In the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas secured a surprising victory, winning a majority of seats. This electoral success set the stage for increased tensions with the rival Fatah party, which culminated in a violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in June 2007.
Hamas's consolidation of power in Gaza led to a de facto split of the Palestinian territories, with Hamas governing Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, retaining control of the West Bank. Since 2007, Hamas has maintained control over the Gaza Strip, frequently engaging in conflict with Israel and facing an Israeli and Egyptian blockade. The group's stated objective remains the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state.