AP Photo

Since 2006, following Hamas's rise to power in the Gaza Strip, Israel has applied sanctions - with de facto Egyptian approval) - against the territory. These include stricter border control, withholding public funds from institutions run by Hamas, limiting the import of various foods items such as beef, produce and pasta and restricting the import of dual-use items - i.e. fertilizers that can double as explosives, steel pipes that are used to build Kassam rockets and concrete that can be hijacked for bunkers and sub-border tunnels.

The international discussion has been focused solely on whether Israel should continue applying these sanctions. However, it would be better to ask a slightly different question: What sanctions should be applied and what can they...